First off, we will be at the Nashville Comic & Horror Festival this weekend, doing our thing. Details can be found at http://www.comiccitytn.com/Nashville_Comic_Con.html.
Also, we've got a new issue of MONSTER KING just starting up. You can view the first four pages of Issue 5 starting at http://www.torcpress.com/monsterking.html. It's pretty simple, there's two pages of plot exposition and character stuff, then Everything Goes Horribly Wrong. And they don't stop going wrong. They just don't. This is gonna be one of those Blood n' Guts type of Issues. Enjoy!
Anyway, I need to start getting ready to roll. Later.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Monday, September 26, 2011
Monday Production Updates while Wore Out
Right.
Before I forget again, I will be at the Nashville Comic & Horror Fest this weekend. I'll be there both days, all day. Information can be found at http://www.comiccitytn.com/Nashville_Comic_Con.html. Now all I need to do is start getting ready for it.
Also, this is the last week for Monster King Issue 4. Read it while the reading is good, cause Issue 5 will come storming in on...well, Friday, actually. It'll be a little early due to me leaving for Nashville. Of course, all of this is assuming I can access my website's account. It's been acting flaky since yesterday.
Here's what's going down in TORCtown (all of which you can check out at www.torcpress.com):
The Hot Fudge Sundae Adventure Club: Issues 1-13 are available in the store. Issue 14 is being shipped to me as we speak, in theory I should have it before Nashville, and will probably make it available online next week, after I get back. Issue 15 is completed. I will send it to the printers the second I get time to Photoshop it.
Monster King: Issues 1-3 are available in the store. Issue 4 was sent to the Printers on Friday, should be available sometime in October. Issue 5 is completed, and the first 4 pages are colorized and ready to go online. I plan on scripting Issue 6 soon.
Cosmic Love: Issues 1-3 are available in the store. Issue 4 is halfway done. I need to pencil the rest of the book this week, and hopefully get some inks done as well.
Other Books: "Super Duper Fun Comix 2011 Special" is completed, and I'll hopefully send it to the printers in a couple of weeks. I've got ideas for another SDFComix Special, as well as Issue 3 of the Clown & Tea Cup Show.
Before I forget again, I will be at the Nashville Comic & Horror Fest this weekend. I'll be there both days, all day. Information can be found at http://www.comiccitytn.com/Nashville_Comic_Con.html. Now all I need to do is start getting ready for it.
Also, this is the last week for Monster King Issue 4. Read it while the reading is good, cause Issue 5 will come storming in on...well, Friday, actually. It'll be a little early due to me leaving for Nashville. Of course, all of this is assuming I can access my website's account. It's been acting flaky since yesterday.
Here's what's going down in TORCtown (all of which you can check out at www.torcpress.com):
The Hot Fudge Sundae Adventure Club: Issues 1-13 are available in the store. Issue 14 is being shipped to me as we speak, in theory I should have it before Nashville, and will probably make it available online next week, after I get back. Issue 15 is completed. I will send it to the printers the second I get time to Photoshop it.
Monster King: Issues 1-3 are available in the store. Issue 4 was sent to the Printers on Friday, should be available sometime in October. Issue 5 is completed, and the first 4 pages are colorized and ready to go online. I plan on scripting Issue 6 soon.
Cosmic Love: Issues 1-3 are available in the store. Issue 4 is halfway done. I need to pencil the rest of the book this week, and hopefully get some inks done as well.
Other Books: "Super Duper Fun Comix 2011 Special" is completed, and I'll hopefully send it to the printers in a couple of weeks. I've got ideas for another SDFComix Special, as well as Issue 3 of the Clown & Tea Cup Show.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
DC New 52 Round 3 & 4 Reviews
Okay, before we get to the reviews, again, MONSTER KING 4 goes away at the end of this week. Anyway, here's some quick, non-DC reviews.
Pigs #1- Image- Nate Cosby, Ben McCool, Breno Tamura- A Russian Sleeper Cell hidden in Cuba awakens and begins wrecking havoc in the US. Meanwhile, some cops play "The Usual Suspects" trying to figure out what the hell's going on. This is the kind of comic lots of people will enjoy. It's got a bit of police procedural and a bit of the whole espionage/intrigue thing going on. Unfortunately, this comic is not for me. I don't like the premise, the characters, the art, or the dialogue. Again, others will like this. I did not.
Snarked #0- Kaboom!- Roger Langridge- Despite Mark's recommendations, I never got around to reading Langridge's "Muppet Show" run. Anyway, when the guy went on his own and created something new, I was like, why not? This is neat. Cool art, off beat characters, and it's loosely based on "Alice in Wonderland". I'll be picking this one up when it officially debuts next month.
Butcher Baker the Righteous Maker #6- Joe Casey, Mike Huddleston- I've been on the fence with this comic. I like the art, I like the ideas, but there's too much...posturing, and that kinda annoys me. But this issue. This issue is bad ass. The art kicks ass from one end of the book to the other, and the story rolls fast and furious, not treading water like some previous issues. Very cool.
BPRD: Hell on Earth: Russia #1- Mike Mignola, John Arcudi, Tyler Crook- Liz is gone, Abe's in a Death Coma, so all that's left is Johann and Kate, who get shipped off to Russia to deal with more insane crap. It's BPRD. It's great. There's horrible stuff and some new characters. Should be fun.
Love and Rockets New Stories 4 by Los Bros Hernandez- Do I even need to bother? IT'S LOVE AND ROCKETS! GO BUY A COPY!
Okay, on with the DC New 52 Reviews.
Nightwing by Kyle Higgins, Eddy Barrows, and JP Mayer
Why I Picked It Up: I've always like Nightwing as a character, especially the series from several years ago, so I thought I'd make this one a dark horse.
What Happens: Dick Grayson gets back into being Nightwing (based in Gotham this time), fights some bad guys, and visits his old circus.
What I Thought: Easily the weakest DC book I've picked up to date. This comic isn't bad, it's just mediocre. Having said that, there's stuff I liked, like Nightwing's new costume, and the voice narration by Dick. There's several definitive differences between Dick and Bruce, and that is solidly expressed here. The action sequences try to live up to the potential of the acrobatic lead, but, honestly, the art can't keep up.
Will I Pick Up Issue #2: Sorry. It's just not strong enough. I'm out.
Batman & Robin by Peter J. Tomasi, Patrick Gleason, and Mick Gray
Why I Picked It Up: Bruce and Damian as the Dynamic Duo. Worth a shot.
What Happens: We've got another bad guy scrubbing Batman Inc. members. Bruce and Damian try to learn to work together, to mixed results.
What I Thought: There's some good stuff here. The character interactions between Bruce and Damian are the main show here, as well as the polarity of their approaches to crime fighting. There's some neat stuff, but the art isn't to my tastes, and not enough resonates with me.
Will I Pick Up Issue #2: I'm not super psyched, but I think I'll give it a shot. It needs to knock the ball out of the park next issue, though.
Red Lanterns by Peter Milligan, Ed Benes, and Rob Hunter
Why I Picked It Up: I dig Peter Milligan. Also, if I was a Lantern, I'd be a Red one. RAGE!
What Happens: There's some killing, and we get Atrocitus's origin, as well as a search for meaning.
What I Thought: Here's the Bad News- If you know next to nothing about the Red Lanterns (and I don't), this is not a very good introduction. Most of the characters are ill defined, and the actual properties of the Red Lanterns are not really explained. Having said that, the art is really good, perfectly suited for the subject matter. There's violence, crazy stuff, and the Red Lanterns are a gang of Monsters. And I love Monsters. Also, Atrocitus is really cool. Honestly, Milligan has a very difficult task, trying to turn a gang of violent cosmic sociopaths into the lead characters of a series. And, he pretty much succeeds.
Will I Pick Up Issue #2? Yeah. If nothing else, I'm hoping I'll learn more about everything next issue.
Resurrection Man by Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning, and Fernando Dagnino
Why I Picked It Up: Wasn't gonna at all, but there's been some really strong reviews for this book online, so I thought I'd give it a shot.
What Happens: Resurrection Man dies a couple of times and there's Demons and Angels and evil debutantes.
What I Thought: Wow. Totally surprised by this one. It was great. Just great. I mean, there's Demons and Angels and Evil Debutantes, and great writing. Right up my alley.
Will I Pick Up Issue #2? I'm in like Flynn. More Please.
Batwoman by J. H. Williams III and W. Haden Blackman
Why I Picked It Up: J. H. Williams III
What Happens: Batwoman is chasing the Mexican Spirit known as La Llorna (which I first heard about in Love & Rockets (Full Circle)). She also has sidekick troubles.
What I Thought: Okay, like Red Lanterns, this is NOT a good introduction issue. I missed out on the JH Williams Batwoman stories from Detective, so I really don't know anything about Batwoman at all, and this issue doesn't really do a good job of introducing me to her or her world. Having said that: J. H. Williams III.
Will I Pick Up Issue #2? Again. J. H. Williams III. IN.
Demon Knights by Paul Cornell, Diogenes Neves, and Oclair Albert
Why I Picked It Up: Wasn't gonna, but I liked Cornell's "Stormwatch". Plus, it's got Etrigan.
What Happens: We get Etrigan's origin. The Demon Knights kinda come together to fight a massive army led by Mordred.
What I Thought: This book moves so fast, you almost can't keep up. Which I like. We've got a great cast of characters, kinda sorta being drawn together. The art's pretty good too. Also, Dinosaurs.
Will I Pick Up Issue #2? Yep. The Demon and Dinosaurs? Yep.
Frankenstein, Agent of S.H.A.D.E. by Jeff Lemire and Alberto Ponticelli
Why I Picked It Up: I loved what Morrison did with these characters in his Seven Soldiers series. Also, I wanted to try more Lemire, especially after how good Animal Man was.
What Happens: A town is invaded by monsters. Frankenstein and SHADE have gotta stop it.
What I Thought: I loved everything about this comic. I loved this comic from page one on. Frankenstein's leading a team of Monsters. I loved this comic.
Will I Pick Up Issue #2? I loved this comic. Give me more monsters.
Wonder Woman by Brian Azzarello and Clint Chiang
Why I Picked It Up: This one has been seriously hyped since Day One. I gotta admit, I was curious if they could actually make a decent, let alone excellent, Wonder Woman comic.
What Happens: Mythology goes wrong. Very, very wrong.
What I Thought: Wowzers. Wowzers. Man, this is the real deal. This is a comic for me. Wowzers.
Will I Pick Up Issue #2? I'd buy it right now if I could.
Batman by Scott Snyder, Greg Capullo, and Jonathan Glapion
Why I Picked It Up: This is another one that's been very strongly hyped. I dug Snyder's "Swamp Thing", and I was curious how Capullo would hold up after leaving Spawnland.
What Happens: Batman stops an Arkham prison break, then gets dumped into a new mystery with a very out of left field suspect.
What I Thought: The best Bat book I've read to date. Still, I'm not sure it lives up to all the hype. There's a lotta people online calling this the second coming, and I'm not as in love with it as that. Having said that, I really enjoyed this book. Well written and the art's great. There's some really cool concepts floating around. Snyder is dancing around in Morrison territory in terms of pure concept, and he's doing an impressive job.
Will I Pick Up Issue #2? Yeah.
What's the verdict? Nightwing is out, and Batman & Robin's got another issue to impress me. I'll read Batwoman as long as J.H. Williams is doing the art. Demon Knights and Batman were solid enough to keep reading. I was absolutely shocked by how good Resurrection Man and Wonder Woman were. Red Lanterns and Frankenstein are my kind of books. Gotta say, I'm digging this Reboot.
Pigs #1- Image- Nate Cosby, Ben McCool, Breno Tamura- A Russian Sleeper Cell hidden in Cuba awakens and begins wrecking havoc in the US. Meanwhile, some cops play "The Usual Suspects" trying to figure out what the hell's going on. This is the kind of comic lots of people will enjoy. It's got a bit of police procedural and a bit of the whole espionage/intrigue thing going on. Unfortunately, this comic is not for me. I don't like the premise, the characters, the art, or the dialogue. Again, others will like this. I did not.
Snarked #0- Kaboom!- Roger Langridge- Despite Mark's recommendations, I never got around to reading Langridge's "Muppet Show" run. Anyway, when the guy went on his own and created something new, I was like, why not? This is neat. Cool art, off beat characters, and it's loosely based on "Alice in Wonderland". I'll be picking this one up when it officially debuts next month.
Butcher Baker the Righteous Maker #6- Joe Casey, Mike Huddleston- I've been on the fence with this comic. I like the art, I like the ideas, but there's too much...posturing, and that kinda annoys me. But this issue. This issue is bad ass. The art kicks ass from one end of the book to the other, and the story rolls fast and furious, not treading water like some previous issues. Very cool.
BPRD: Hell on Earth: Russia #1- Mike Mignola, John Arcudi, Tyler Crook- Liz is gone, Abe's in a Death Coma, so all that's left is Johann and Kate, who get shipped off to Russia to deal with more insane crap. It's BPRD. It's great. There's horrible stuff and some new characters. Should be fun.
Love and Rockets New Stories 4 by Los Bros Hernandez- Do I even need to bother? IT'S LOVE AND ROCKETS! GO BUY A COPY!
Okay, on with the DC New 52 Reviews.
Nightwing by Kyle Higgins, Eddy Barrows, and JP Mayer
Why I Picked It Up: I've always like Nightwing as a character, especially the series from several years ago, so I thought I'd make this one a dark horse.
What Happens: Dick Grayson gets back into being Nightwing (based in Gotham this time), fights some bad guys, and visits his old circus.
What I Thought: Easily the weakest DC book I've picked up to date. This comic isn't bad, it's just mediocre. Having said that, there's stuff I liked, like Nightwing's new costume, and the voice narration by Dick. There's several definitive differences between Dick and Bruce, and that is solidly expressed here. The action sequences try to live up to the potential of the acrobatic lead, but, honestly, the art can't keep up.
Will I Pick Up Issue #2: Sorry. It's just not strong enough. I'm out.
Batman & Robin by Peter J. Tomasi, Patrick Gleason, and Mick Gray
Why I Picked It Up: Bruce and Damian as the Dynamic Duo. Worth a shot.
What Happens: We've got another bad guy scrubbing Batman Inc. members. Bruce and Damian try to learn to work together, to mixed results.
What I Thought: There's some good stuff here. The character interactions between Bruce and Damian are the main show here, as well as the polarity of their approaches to crime fighting. There's some neat stuff, but the art isn't to my tastes, and not enough resonates with me.
Will I Pick Up Issue #2: I'm not super psyched, but I think I'll give it a shot. It needs to knock the ball out of the park next issue, though.
Red Lanterns by Peter Milligan, Ed Benes, and Rob Hunter
Why I Picked It Up: I dig Peter Milligan. Also, if I was a Lantern, I'd be a Red one. RAGE!
What Happens: There's some killing, and we get Atrocitus's origin, as well as a search for meaning.
What I Thought: Here's the Bad News- If you know next to nothing about the Red Lanterns (and I don't), this is not a very good introduction. Most of the characters are ill defined, and the actual properties of the Red Lanterns are not really explained. Having said that, the art is really good, perfectly suited for the subject matter. There's violence, crazy stuff, and the Red Lanterns are a gang of Monsters. And I love Monsters. Also, Atrocitus is really cool. Honestly, Milligan has a very difficult task, trying to turn a gang of violent cosmic sociopaths into the lead characters of a series. And, he pretty much succeeds.
Will I Pick Up Issue #2? Yeah. If nothing else, I'm hoping I'll learn more about everything next issue.
Resurrection Man by Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning, and Fernando Dagnino
Why I Picked It Up: Wasn't gonna at all, but there's been some really strong reviews for this book online, so I thought I'd give it a shot.
What Happens: Resurrection Man dies a couple of times and there's Demons and Angels and evil debutantes.
What I Thought: Wow. Totally surprised by this one. It was great. Just great. I mean, there's Demons and Angels and Evil Debutantes, and great writing. Right up my alley.
Will I Pick Up Issue #2? I'm in like Flynn. More Please.
Batwoman by J. H. Williams III and W. Haden Blackman
Why I Picked It Up: J. H. Williams III
What Happens: Batwoman is chasing the Mexican Spirit known as La Llorna (which I first heard about in Love & Rockets (Full Circle)). She also has sidekick troubles.
What I Thought: Okay, like Red Lanterns, this is NOT a good introduction issue. I missed out on the JH Williams Batwoman stories from Detective, so I really don't know anything about Batwoman at all, and this issue doesn't really do a good job of introducing me to her or her world. Having said that: J. H. Williams III.
Will I Pick Up Issue #2? Again. J. H. Williams III. IN.
Demon Knights by Paul Cornell, Diogenes Neves, and Oclair Albert
Why I Picked It Up: Wasn't gonna, but I liked Cornell's "Stormwatch". Plus, it's got Etrigan.
What Happens: We get Etrigan's origin. The Demon Knights kinda come together to fight a massive army led by Mordred.
What I Thought: This book moves so fast, you almost can't keep up. Which I like. We've got a great cast of characters, kinda sorta being drawn together. The art's pretty good too. Also, Dinosaurs.
Will I Pick Up Issue #2? Yep. The Demon and Dinosaurs? Yep.
Frankenstein, Agent of S.H.A.D.E. by Jeff Lemire and Alberto Ponticelli
Why I Picked It Up: I loved what Morrison did with these characters in his Seven Soldiers series. Also, I wanted to try more Lemire, especially after how good Animal Man was.
What Happens: A town is invaded by monsters. Frankenstein and SHADE have gotta stop it.
What I Thought: I loved everything about this comic. I loved this comic from page one on. Frankenstein's leading a team of Monsters. I loved this comic.
Will I Pick Up Issue #2? I loved this comic. Give me more monsters.
Wonder Woman by Brian Azzarello and Clint Chiang
Why I Picked It Up: This one has been seriously hyped since Day One. I gotta admit, I was curious if they could actually make a decent, let alone excellent, Wonder Woman comic.
What Happens: Mythology goes wrong. Very, very wrong.
What I Thought: Wowzers. Wowzers. Man, this is the real deal. This is a comic for me. Wowzers.
Will I Pick Up Issue #2? I'd buy it right now if I could.
Batman by Scott Snyder, Greg Capullo, and Jonathan Glapion
Why I Picked It Up: This is another one that's been very strongly hyped. I dug Snyder's "Swamp Thing", and I was curious how Capullo would hold up after leaving Spawnland.
What Happens: Batman stops an Arkham prison break, then gets dumped into a new mystery with a very out of left field suspect.
What I Thought: The best Bat book I've read to date. Still, I'm not sure it lives up to all the hype. There's a lotta people online calling this the second coming, and I'm not as in love with it as that. Having said that, I really enjoyed this book. Well written and the art's great. There's some really cool concepts floating around. Snyder is dancing around in Morrison territory in terms of pure concept, and he's doing an impressive job.
Will I Pick Up Issue #2? Yeah.
What's the verdict? Nightwing is out, and Batman & Robin's got another issue to impress me. I'll read Batwoman as long as J.H. Williams is doing the art. Demon Knights and Batman were solid enough to keep reading. I was absolutely shocked by how good Resurrection Man and Wonder Woman were. Red Lanterns and Frankenstein are my kind of books. Gotta say, I'm digging this Reboot.
Saturday, September 24, 2011
The Last of MONSTER KING 4
"There it is, the Legendary Flying Taco Stand!"
Welp, there it is, folks, the last two pages of MONSTER KING Issue 4. Pages 23 and 24 can be viewed starting at http://www.torcpress.com/mk23.html. It's a silly little conclusion to this bizarre little story.
Anyway, there ain't no rest for the wicked. Issue 5 will be starting up next week. We're mixing things up again. The plan is to delete MK 4 next week and release 4 Pages of MK 5 every week until that issue wraps up. So get Issue 4 while the getting is good.
Also, the Dr. Orphyus Project is performing live tonight at Friends & Company in Charleston, IL. The show starts at 9. I think I'll be meeting Bro and Fitchy in Mattoon around 6:30 or so. This is the last stop on Bro's 2011 Midwest World Tour. Should be a cool show. I think Bro will be performing 4 new songs from his soon to be released album, "Death Jazz". All 4 songs will feature videos that were created within the last year, two of which were created shortly before his tour. All of em feature artwork and animation by yours truly. This will actually be the first time I've seen two of the new videos in action, so I'm pretty excited.
Anyway, I'm off to Evansville. The CQCA Meeting got canceled, but I've still gotta pick up close to a dozen New DC Comics, get Reductions done on a buncha books (including the aforementioned MK5), and pick up a present for a friend's kid. From there it's off to Charleston for the aforementioned show. Gonna be a long road type of day.
Welp, there it is, folks, the last two pages of MONSTER KING Issue 4. Pages 23 and 24 can be viewed starting at http://www.torcpress.com/mk23.html. It's a silly little conclusion to this bizarre little story.
Anyway, there ain't no rest for the wicked. Issue 5 will be starting up next week. We're mixing things up again. The plan is to delete MK 4 next week and release 4 Pages of MK 5 every week until that issue wraps up. So get Issue 4 while the getting is good.
Also, the Dr. Orphyus Project is performing live tonight at Friends & Company in Charleston, IL. The show starts at 9. I think I'll be meeting Bro and Fitchy in Mattoon around 6:30 or so. This is the last stop on Bro's 2011 Midwest World Tour. Should be a cool show. I think Bro will be performing 4 new songs from his soon to be released album, "Death Jazz". All 4 songs will feature videos that were created within the last year, two of which were created shortly before his tour. All of em feature artwork and animation by yours truly. This will actually be the first time I've seen two of the new videos in action, so I'm pretty excited.
Anyway, I'm off to Evansville. The CQCA Meeting got canceled, but I've still gotta pick up close to a dozen New DC Comics, get Reductions done on a buncha books (including the aforementioned MK5), and pick up a present for a friend's kid. From there it's off to Charleston for the aforementioned show. Gonna be a long road type of day.
Monday, September 19, 2011
Battle Plan Part 2
So, a couple of posts ago I was discussing my strategy for completing my "Completely Impossible What Was I Thinking 24 Comix Published in a Single Year Challenge". Since then, I've done some thinking, and I've revised my battle strategy a bit. I know which books I need to do to finish the challenge, and, more importantly, I know my time frame. If I can complete all of these by the end of October, I should be able to deliver everything to the Printers with plenty of time to spare before the year runs out. So, here's my To Do List:
14. The Hot Fudge Sundae Adventure Club 14- Currently at the Printers.
15. Monster King 4- I need to Colorize and release the last two pages online, then I need to work up a cover, and send the whole thing to the Printers.
16. SDF: Pulp 2011 Special- Currently at the Printers.
17. Super Duper Fun Comix 2011 Special #1- Completed last weekend. Needs to be reduced, Photoshopped, and Delivered to the Printers.
18. The Hot Fudge Sundae Adventure Club 15- Completed this weekend. Needs to be reduced, Photoshopped, and Delivered to the Printers.
19. Monster King 5- Completed this weekend. I need to get reductions made. I will begin releasing MK5 in 4 Page Installments around October 1st.
20. Cosmic Love 4- Script is Done. Pencils and Inks are started.
21. The Hot Fudge Sundae Adventure Club 16- I've got nothing but a plot in my head.
22. Monster King 6- I plan on writing the Script for this one soon, maybe this week.
23. Super Duper Fun Comix 2011 Special #2- I came up with the plot for this one a few days ago. Should be fun.
24. The Clown & Tea Cup Show 3- This one will be my Hail Mary. I plan on saving it for last, not writing a script for it, and knocking the whole book out in a day or two, similar to a 24 Hour Comic, except I get to sleep somewhere in the middle. I've got a vague plot in my head at least.
So there you go, I've got a little under a month in a half to produce a little over 5 1/2 Books. Kirby wouldn't have sweated that on his worst day.
14. The Hot Fudge Sundae Adventure Club 14- Currently at the Printers.
15. Monster King 4- I need to Colorize and release the last two pages online, then I need to work up a cover, and send the whole thing to the Printers.
16. SDF: Pulp 2011 Special- Currently at the Printers.
17. Super Duper Fun Comix 2011 Special #1- Completed last weekend. Needs to be reduced, Photoshopped, and Delivered to the Printers.
18. The Hot Fudge Sundae Adventure Club 15- Completed this weekend. Needs to be reduced, Photoshopped, and Delivered to the Printers.
19. Monster King 5- Completed this weekend. I need to get reductions made. I will begin releasing MK5 in 4 Page Installments around October 1st.
20. Cosmic Love 4- Script is Done. Pencils and Inks are started.
21. The Hot Fudge Sundae Adventure Club 16- I've got nothing but a plot in my head.
22. Monster King 6- I plan on writing the Script for this one soon, maybe this week.
23. Super Duper Fun Comix 2011 Special #2- I came up with the plot for this one a few days ago. Should be fun.
24. The Clown & Tea Cup Show 3- This one will be my Hail Mary. I plan on saving it for last, not writing a script for it, and knocking the whole book out in a day or two, similar to a 24 Hour Comic, except I get to sleep somewhere in the middle. I've got a vague plot in my head at least.
So there you go, I've got a little under a month in a half to produce a little over 5 1/2 Books. Kirby wouldn't have sweated that on his worst day.
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Just About Done with MONSTER KING 4
"Have I Mentioned I HATE Walking?"
Well, Broken Tea Cup may not be all that thrilled, but MONSTER KING Issue 4 is just about done. This week, we've got pages 21-22 starting at http://www.torcpress.com/mk21.html. With both Old One Eye and Luther Dirge failing in their attempts to kill the Clown, the Ortex Elite Squad has arrived to finish the job! Who are they (actually, long time readers should recognize Johny Styles, Executive Vice President of the Ortex Corporation), and why are they such a deadly threat? Well, you gotta wait for next Issue to find out. In the meantime, our heroes are wandering aimlessly through the desert looking for...what? Who knows? It's TORC Press, and it's best to not bother asking questions.
In the meantime, we're smashing and bashing our way through to the end of our Impossible 24 Comix in a Year Challenge. This weekend, we're inking Monster King 5. We should have HFSAC 15 done by the middle of this next week. Cosmic Love 4 is scripted, and pencils are started. We'll start inking it after we're done with HFSAC.
Oh, and before I forget, Bro is on the Road right now. That's right, the Dr. Orphyus Project is Live and on the Road, tearing it up across the Northern Midwest. They should have wrapped up a show in Appleton, WI last night, and they'll be in upper Wisconsin (I think) tonight. The tour wraps up a week from today in Charleston, IL, which is where I'll finally be able to catch up with Brutha Buzz. Bro's got two Brand New Videos that I made for him on this tour. I look forward to seeing them Live next week. All of us here at TORC Press (which, again, is just me) wish the brave men of the DOP (which, incidentally, is just Ryan and his "tour manager" (aka Drinking Buddy) Fitchy) the Best of Luck on their Tour.
Well, Broken Tea Cup may not be all that thrilled, but MONSTER KING Issue 4 is just about done. This week, we've got pages 21-22 starting at http://www.torcpress.com/mk21.html. With both Old One Eye and Luther Dirge failing in their attempts to kill the Clown, the Ortex Elite Squad has arrived to finish the job! Who are they (actually, long time readers should recognize Johny Styles, Executive Vice President of the Ortex Corporation), and why are they such a deadly threat? Well, you gotta wait for next Issue to find out. In the meantime, our heroes are wandering aimlessly through the desert looking for...what? Who knows? It's TORC Press, and it's best to not bother asking questions.
In the meantime, we're smashing and bashing our way through to the end of our Impossible 24 Comix in a Year Challenge. This weekend, we're inking Monster King 5. We should have HFSAC 15 done by the middle of this next week. Cosmic Love 4 is scripted, and pencils are started. We'll start inking it after we're done with HFSAC.
Oh, and before I forget, Bro is on the Road right now. That's right, the Dr. Orphyus Project is Live and on the Road, tearing it up across the Northern Midwest. They should have wrapped up a show in Appleton, WI last night, and they'll be in upper Wisconsin (I think) tonight. The tour wraps up a week from today in Charleston, IL, which is where I'll finally be able to catch up with Brutha Buzz. Bro's got two Brand New Videos that I made for him on this tour. I look forward to seeing them Live next week. All of us here at TORC Press (which, again, is just me) wish the brave men of the DOP (which, incidentally, is just Ryan and his "tour manager" (aka Drinking Buddy) Fitchy) the Best of Luck on their Tour.
Monday, September 12, 2011
Battle Plan
I think it was back in January that I declared the "Completely Impossible, What Was I Thinking, There's No Way I'm Gonna Pull This Off, Publish 24 Comics in a Single Year" Challenge. I Challenged myself to do this for a lot of reasons. I was depressed and needed something to keep me going was a big part of it. Also, I'm so tired of the Apathy I see all around me. It seems like I'm constantly seeing the Real World beat people down. I watch people give up on their dreams all the time. At conventions, every year, I talk to people about making their own comics, and I offer advice and information and encouragement, but it's extremely rare to see those people pick up the torch and run with it. So, my Impossible Challenge was kinda for me, and kinda for all the other Dreamers out there. A Never Say Die Anthem for all the would be Believers.
Well, we're into Month NINE, and let's see how we're doing. I'm recovering from a broken heart and spider bites on my ankles. Lots of other obstacles have gotten in my way, from my extremely aggressive convention schedule to good old fashioned exhaustion. Long story short, with the Publication of "Cosmic Love" #3 (available for sale at www.torcpress.com), we (and as always, when I say we, I mean me) have knocked out 13 Comix this year. Now, that's a respectable number. In fact, that's over a year's worth of material produced in less the a year. BUT, it's also 11 Books short of my goal, with only FOUR months left in the Calender Year. To make matters even more Impossible, Technically, I need to wrap things up before the end of NOVEMBER, because the Printers have a One Month Turn Over Rate. So, technically, I only have THREE MONTHS to Produce ELEVEN BOOKS.
So, yeah, I'm screwed.
But, if I'm going down, I'm going down fighting. Unlike some people, I don't run away at the first sign of trouble.
Here's the breakdown. "The Hot Fudge Sundae Adventure Club" #14 is at the Printers right now. That's 14. I just sent off a brand new book "SDF: Pulp 2011 Special" yesterday. That's 15. I've got another book, "Super Duper Fun Comix 2011 Special" ready to go. That's 16. "Monster King" 4 will be going to the Printers in a week or two. That's 17. I'll have "The Hot Fudge Sundae Adventure Club" #15 finished before the end of the month. That's 18. I just finished the script and have started Pencils on "Monster King" #5. That's 19. That's Spitting Distance.
If I do the 24 Hour Comic in November, that's 20. I need to do "Cosmic Love" #4 next. That would be 21. That leaves me with 3 Slots that I'm currently not sure which comix I'll fill with. I may fast track "Monster King" 6, and speed up the release of the weekly installments, in order to wrap that series of up and bring the count to 22. After that, it would just be two books.
Hell, I can do two books in my sleep.
Impossible? Bah.
Well, we're into Month NINE, and let's see how we're doing. I'm recovering from a broken heart and spider bites on my ankles. Lots of other obstacles have gotten in my way, from my extremely aggressive convention schedule to good old fashioned exhaustion. Long story short, with the Publication of "Cosmic Love" #3 (available for sale at www.torcpress.com), we (and as always, when I say we, I mean me) have knocked out 13 Comix this year. Now, that's a respectable number. In fact, that's over a year's worth of material produced in less the a year. BUT, it's also 11 Books short of my goal, with only FOUR months left in the Calender Year. To make matters even more Impossible, Technically, I need to wrap things up before the end of NOVEMBER, because the Printers have a One Month Turn Over Rate. So, technically, I only have THREE MONTHS to Produce ELEVEN BOOKS.
So, yeah, I'm screwed.
But, if I'm going down, I'm going down fighting. Unlike some people, I don't run away at the first sign of trouble.
Here's the breakdown. "The Hot Fudge Sundae Adventure Club" #14 is at the Printers right now. That's 14. I just sent off a brand new book "SDF: Pulp 2011 Special" yesterday. That's 15. I've got another book, "Super Duper Fun Comix 2011 Special" ready to go. That's 16. "Monster King" 4 will be going to the Printers in a week or two. That's 17. I'll have "The Hot Fudge Sundae Adventure Club" #15 finished before the end of the month. That's 18. I just finished the script and have started Pencils on "Monster King" #5. That's 19. That's Spitting Distance.
If I do the 24 Hour Comic in November, that's 20. I need to do "Cosmic Love" #4 next. That would be 21. That leaves me with 3 Slots that I'm currently not sure which comix I'll fill with. I may fast track "Monster King" 6, and speed up the release of the weekly installments, in order to wrap that series of up and bring the count to 22. After that, it would just be two books.
Hell, I can do two books in my sleep.
Impossible? Bah.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Rockin' Down the MONSTER KING Highway
"HAHAHAHA! A Demon that's Afraid to Die? Now THAT is Funny!"
It be Saturday, so that mean it be MONSTER KING time! We're getting close to the home stretch (jeez, I need to start work on Issue 5...), as this week we've got Pages 19-20. The showdown between the Butterfly Mob and Luther Dirge comes to a rather abrupt conclusion, as we discover that, like most Lawyers, old Luther ain't got much of a backbone. Join in on the fun, starting at http://www.torcpress.com/mk19.html.
Also, while we're on the subject, don't forget that "Cosmic Love" #3 is now available in our Online Store at www.torcpress.com/store.html. It's a lovely book chock full of Monster Fighting, Psychic Dolphins, Octopus Superheroes, and other crazy things. It's cool stuff.
I've got work to do. Later.
It be Saturday, so that mean it be MONSTER KING time! We're getting close to the home stretch (jeez, I need to start work on Issue 5...), as this week we've got Pages 19-20. The showdown between the Butterfly Mob and Luther Dirge comes to a rather abrupt conclusion, as we discover that, like most Lawyers, old Luther ain't got much of a backbone. Join in on the fun, starting at http://www.torcpress.com/mk19.html.
Also, while we're on the subject, don't forget that "Cosmic Love" #3 is now available in our Online Store at www.torcpress.com/store.html. It's a lovely book chock full of Monster Fighting, Psychic Dolphins, Octopus Superheroes, and other crazy things. It's cool stuff.
I've got work to do. Later.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
First Round 52 Reviews
Here we go.
Justice League #1 by Geoff Johns and Jim Lee
Why Did I Pick It Up: I didn't want to, Boolah wanted a copy. But me being me, I read it anyway.
What Happens: Batman's chasing a monster from Apokalypse. Green Lantern shows up to help and acts like he owns the place.
What I Thought: So, if you've been paying attention, you've probably heard everyone crap all over this book. Me, I wasn't even remotely interested, but like I said, I picked it up for Boolah, and I couldn't not read it. And, it turns out... this book is pretty damn good. Is Grant Morrison "JLA" #1 Good? Hell no. But it's a fun book nonetheless. And that's seemingly what everyone's missed about this book. It's Vibrant and Lively and Fun and Exciting. Seriously. I forgot mainstream comics could be this much fun (without Grant Morrison attached). Are all of the criticisms leveled at the book accurate? Oh yeah. There's lots of stuff wrong with this book, and I could care less about Jim Lee's art. BUT. I was entertained and surprised. Good enough for me.
Will I Pick Up Issue #2: Actually, I need to score a copy of #1 for myself, but YES, I will try Issue 2. Who knew?
Stormwatch #1 by Paul Cornell and Miguel Sepulveda
Why Did I Pick It Up: Kind of a whim, really. Curiosity on the DC/Wildstorm mash up.
What Happens: We get some background on Stormwatch and a brief intro to the team. The team tries to recruit Apollo. Meanwhile, the Moon is getting ready to attack the Earth. Yeah.
What I Thought: Well, I'm not sure about the art. The backgrounds and the monster stuff looked really cool, but the people looked...off. There was also a lot to process, which is not a bad thing, but a lot of the characters were kinda ill defined, and Stormwatch itself was a little ill defined. But there was some cool stuff here. The Moon Monster was super cool, and Jack Hawksmoor, the Martian Manhunter, and the Midnighter (who has a tiny cameo) all had some really cool moments. I'm intrigued.
Will I Pick Up Issue #2?: I'll definitely give it a shot.
Animal Man #1 by Jeff Lemire and Travel Foreman
Why Did I Pick It Up: I've heard good things about Lemire, even though I didn't like "Sweet Tooth", I still felt like giving this a shot.
What Happens: Animal Man hangs out with his family, stops a crazy guy, saves some kids, and has a bizarre dream.
What I Thought: Slow start. Really slow start. I almost gave up on it. Then, there was that dream sequence. I thoroughly enjoyed that dream sequence.
Will I Pick Up Issue #2?: It'll be touch and go, but I'll give it a shot. We'll see if #2 gives me more of the trippy.
Swamp Thing #1 by Scott Snyder and Yanick Paquette
Why Did I Pick It Up: I like Paquette, and I've wanted to read more of Snyder's work.
What Happens: Animals are dying in drones. Alec Holland isn't Swamp Thing anymore. There's an Awesome Monster.
What I Thought: Hey, really good art. Nice. The first 52 comic where I actually enjoyed the art. The story's not bad. There's some clever ideas floating around. I loved the monster. A little slow, but not a bad start.
Will I Pick Up Issue #2?: A nice cliffhanger and the promise of more Paquette is enough to keep me around until at least Issue 2. We'll see after that.
OMAC #1 by Kieth Giffen and Dan Didio
Why Did I Pick It Up: Um, it's OMAC by someone who might actually understand the potential of OMAC. That alone was worth a shot.
What Happens: Smashing. Lots and lots and lots of smashing. And monsters.
What I Thought: Okay, let's make something clear. This book, no matter how good it gets, will never hold a candle to the original Kirby OMAC. Okay, do we all understand? Now, having said that...HOLY CRAP I LOVED THIS ISSUE! My only complaint was the inking. The inking was weak. That's my only complaint. My wuv the smashy wonderfulness. Wuv.
Will I Pick Up Issue #2?: OH. HELL. YEAH.
Action Comics #1 by Grant Morrison and Rags Morales
Why Did I Pick It Up: Grant Morrison. Superman. Duh.
What Happens: Young Superman kicks ass.
What I Thought: I couldn't stop myself from having a big, goofy, silly grin on my face throughout this wonderfully fun, beautiful book. The art is a little touch and go, though. Especially the colors.
Will I Pick Up Issue #2?: I literally can't wait an entire month for Issue #2. I want it RIGHT NOW.
So, um, yeah. The DC New 52. Off to a good start. I can't recommend OMAC and Action Comics enough.
Justice League #1 by Geoff Johns and Jim Lee
Why Did I Pick It Up: I didn't want to, Boolah wanted a copy. But me being me, I read it anyway.
What Happens: Batman's chasing a monster from Apokalypse. Green Lantern shows up to help and acts like he owns the place.
What I Thought: So, if you've been paying attention, you've probably heard everyone crap all over this book. Me, I wasn't even remotely interested, but like I said, I picked it up for Boolah, and I couldn't not read it. And, it turns out... this book is pretty damn good. Is Grant Morrison "JLA" #1 Good? Hell no. But it's a fun book nonetheless. And that's seemingly what everyone's missed about this book. It's Vibrant and Lively and Fun and Exciting. Seriously. I forgot mainstream comics could be this much fun (without Grant Morrison attached). Are all of the criticisms leveled at the book accurate? Oh yeah. There's lots of stuff wrong with this book, and I could care less about Jim Lee's art. BUT. I was entertained and surprised. Good enough for me.
Will I Pick Up Issue #2: Actually, I need to score a copy of #1 for myself, but YES, I will try Issue 2. Who knew?
Stormwatch #1 by Paul Cornell and Miguel Sepulveda
Why Did I Pick It Up: Kind of a whim, really. Curiosity on the DC/Wildstorm mash up.
What Happens: We get some background on Stormwatch and a brief intro to the team. The team tries to recruit Apollo. Meanwhile, the Moon is getting ready to attack the Earth. Yeah.
What I Thought: Well, I'm not sure about the art. The backgrounds and the monster stuff looked really cool, but the people looked...off. There was also a lot to process, which is not a bad thing, but a lot of the characters were kinda ill defined, and Stormwatch itself was a little ill defined. But there was some cool stuff here. The Moon Monster was super cool, and Jack Hawksmoor, the Martian Manhunter, and the Midnighter (who has a tiny cameo) all had some really cool moments. I'm intrigued.
Will I Pick Up Issue #2?: I'll definitely give it a shot.
Animal Man #1 by Jeff Lemire and Travel Foreman
Why Did I Pick It Up: I've heard good things about Lemire, even though I didn't like "Sweet Tooth", I still felt like giving this a shot.
What Happens: Animal Man hangs out with his family, stops a crazy guy, saves some kids, and has a bizarre dream.
What I Thought: Slow start. Really slow start. I almost gave up on it. Then, there was that dream sequence. I thoroughly enjoyed that dream sequence.
Will I Pick Up Issue #2?: It'll be touch and go, but I'll give it a shot. We'll see if #2 gives me more of the trippy.
Swamp Thing #1 by Scott Snyder and Yanick Paquette
Why Did I Pick It Up: I like Paquette, and I've wanted to read more of Snyder's work.
What Happens: Animals are dying in drones. Alec Holland isn't Swamp Thing anymore. There's an Awesome Monster.
What I Thought: Hey, really good art. Nice. The first 52 comic where I actually enjoyed the art. The story's not bad. There's some clever ideas floating around. I loved the monster. A little slow, but not a bad start.
Will I Pick Up Issue #2?: A nice cliffhanger and the promise of more Paquette is enough to keep me around until at least Issue 2. We'll see after that.
OMAC #1 by Kieth Giffen and Dan Didio
Why Did I Pick It Up: Um, it's OMAC by someone who might actually understand the potential of OMAC. That alone was worth a shot.
What Happens: Smashing. Lots and lots and lots of smashing. And monsters.
What I Thought: Okay, let's make something clear. This book, no matter how good it gets, will never hold a candle to the original Kirby OMAC. Okay, do we all understand? Now, having said that...HOLY CRAP I LOVED THIS ISSUE! My only complaint was the inking. The inking was weak. That's my only complaint. My wuv the smashy wonderfulness. Wuv.
Will I Pick Up Issue #2?: OH. HELL. YEAH.
Action Comics #1 by Grant Morrison and Rags Morales
Why Did I Pick It Up: Grant Morrison. Superman. Duh.
What Happens: Young Superman kicks ass.
What I Thought: I couldn't stop myself from having a big, goofy, silly grin on my face throughout this wonderfully fun, beautiful book. The art is a little touch and go, though. Especially the colors.
Will I Pick Up Issue #2?: I literally can't wait an entire month for Issue #2. I want it RIGHT NOW.
So, um, yeah. The DC New 52. Off to a good start. I can't recommend OMAC and Action Comics enough.
Monday, September 5, 2011
Cosmic Love 3 Now Available
Hey, we got a new book out! Yep, why not? "Cosmic Love" #3 is now available from the fine folks at TORC Press. So, what's it about? Simple enough. Cactus Joe the Clown and Pengy Penguin have to go diving down into the Fifth Dimension to recover a lost memory that might tell them where to go next in their largely amorphous vision quest. Meanwhile, in the "Real World" the rest of the Butterfly Gang, Mike the Butcher, Johny Eraser, and Kikki Fortune, are spontaneously attacked by a swarm of monstrous, four armed aliens (who, if you were paying attention last issue, were a "present" sent by Zarathon (who is Cactus Joe's archnemesis, a Demon from Hell who recently ate the Burning Heart of a Cosmic Spacegod and conquered the planet Mercury). See? It all makes perfect sense.
Anyway, it's 24 Pages in BWG with a Color Cover for $2.50 plus $1.50. Um, I think it's Mature Readers. You can pick up a copy either at our online store at http://www.torcpress.com/store.html or send a check or money order to: TORC Press, c/o Joseph Morris, 330 S 5th St SW, Clay City, IL 62824. There's a Preview of the book up at http://www.torcpress.com/cl3prev.html.
Other than that, I've got today off from the Mill, so I'm gonna try to get as much Work done today as I possibly can. Oh! I just remembered, I finished my work on the latest Dr. Orphyus Project Video. I hate to brag, but it's pretty kick ass. Bro should be using both of the new videos during his upcoming Upper Midwest World Tour which I need to write down the dates for because I forgot already stupid memory. So there's that.
Anyway, it's 24 Pages in BWG with a Color Cover for $2.50 plus $1.50. Um, I think it's Mature Readers. You can pick up a copy either at our online store at http://www.torcpress.com/store.html or send a check or money order to: TORC Press, c/o Joseph Morris, 330 S 5th St SW, Clay City, IL 62824. There's a Preview of the book up at http://www.torcpress.com/cl3prev.html.
Other than that, I've got today off from the Mill, so I'm gonna try to get as much Work done today as I possibly can. Oh! I just remembered, I finished my work on the latest Dr. Orphyus Project Video. I hate to brag, but it's pretty kick ass. Bro should be using both of the new videos during his upcoming Upper Midwest World Tour which I need to write down the dates for because I forgot already stupid memory. So there's that.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Rereads
I just got paid up for the 2012 Edition of SPACE, the Small Press Alternative Comics Expo. SPACE is one of my favorite shows of the year, a very friendly, laid back show that's chock full of great creators and great comix. It's the only show where I've actually managed to make some legitimate friends. It's a lovely show and horribly underrated.
I've been rereading some stuff lately. I was rereading Bill Sienkowitz's "Stray Toasters", or I should say, I'm trying to reread it. "Stray Toasters" was an odd book that Mr. Sienkowitchz created for Marvel's long buried EPIC line back in the 80s. The imagery from the book has been a definitive influence on my own style, most notably in the creation of Broken Tea Cup (even the name was a subtle nod to "Stray Toasters" as well as Ted McKeever's "Plastic Forks", another influence). The story behind "Stray Toasters" is about isolation, child abduction, madness, and... um, other stuff. The art is the real draw of the comic, as Sinkowickowitchowsky experiments with Art and Storytelling in all sorts of wild and dynamic ways. It's a purty comic, make no mistake. But...it's...well...it's kinda boring. It's not just that the art is so indecipherable that you have to devote tons of effort just to try to figure out what the hell is going on. Okay, that's part of it. But, it's just not a very interesting or entertaining story. To make matters worse the overly complex artwork largely succeeds in distancing the reader from the characters, who probably would be fairly complex and interesting if they weren't portrayed in such a wooden and distant manner. In my opinion, if you want to argue the validity of Substance trumping Style, this book is a good example of how a book that's all Style and no Substance can be weak. All in all, I'm glad I've got a copy, but I think there was a reason why this particular comic has been largely lost to antiquity.
Before I continue, I'd like to note that is possible to create a comic that is visually interesting/experimental that still has a compelling story with deep characters. If you've never read it, Dave McKean's excellent "Cages" is a perfect example of a brilliant marriage of Style and Substance.
I also just reread Jack Kirby's "The Demon". The Demon is kinda odd in that it's the only Kirby creation from the 70s that other people actually did more with than Kirby. What I mean is that, honestly, all of Kirby's most famous creations from the 60s were eventually taken up by other creators and improved upon. (I would like to take a second to note how hard it was for me to make the preceding statement. I am literally gritting my teeth as I write this. But as devoted as I am to the King, there's no denying the success of Claremont's X-Men, Byrne's Fantastic Four, Simonson's Thor, Peter David's Hulk, and...um... I dunno, pick your favorite Avengers writer and insert their name here. I'm partial to Busiek's run myself. Having said that, NONE of those guys have ever matched the Raw Power and Inventiveness of those original Kirby books. Whew, I feel better now.) Anyway, most of Kirby's 70s creations were never successfully improved upon. Lots of people tried, but no one was ever able to get a grip on this horde of bizarre characters and concepts (which, incidentally, is why I'm I enjoy the 70s work so much. It's pure Kirby, and there's nothing anyone else has done to compare it to). Except for the Demon. Lots of people have used the Demon to great effect. He's had Series, Mini-series, and played a minor role in several notable works, including Neal Gaiman's "Sandman" and Alan Moore's "Saga of the Swamp Thing". With the possible exception of Darksied, he's appeared in more Animated Stuff than any other Kirby character from the 70s. And there's probably a reason for that. "The Demon" was an odd duck for Kirby. Most of Kirby's Heroes fell into one of two categories: Die-Hard, Tough as Nails Soldiers Battling the Forces of Evil and Injustice OR Cosmic Hippies Seeking Peace and Enlightenment in a Chaotic Universe. Etrigan the Demon, on the other hand, is a Cackling, Reckless, Vicious Beast from Hell whose only interests appear to be remorselessly slaughtering the forces of evil and serving his master, Merlin. It was a horror series by a creator who had done just about every type of comic, ever, but had only dabbled in Horror.
Rereading the comic, at first, I was about to write it off. It's an awkward book in many ways. And there appears to be times that Kirby's just going through the motions, most notably in a three issue story arc where, once again, Kirby taps into his obsession with Frankenstien's Monster (seriously, one of these days I'm gonna count up how many times Kirby used a "Frankenstien" in his books. In fact, there's a Frankenstien-bit in Kirby's "Forever People" AND "Jimmy Olsen" just a year or two prior). BUT, all criticisms aside, having reread the comics, there's some pretty kick ass stuff in here. First off, NO ONE has EVER designed Monsters the way Kirby did. And the Demon is chock full of cool, crazy, bizarre monsters. The other thing that really clicked with me upon rereading this material was that there is an expertly executed sense of Mood in these comics. Whereas other creators (myself included) would use blood and gore to create a horrific atmosphere, Kirby used Atmosphere to create an oppressively Dark Mood. It's something I didn't really pick up on at first (cause I'm an idiot), but it's there. It's similar, in a way, to those Japanese Horror Films from the Early Millenium. As always, Kirby was ahead of his times. No surprise there.
Also, all the stuff with Klarion the Witchboy was inspired.
I'm also rereading "OMAC". I have no criticism of that series. It's the Greatest Comic Ever Made by Anyone in the History of Ever. Poor Kieth Giffen's got his work cut out for him.
Side Note: I was describing "The Eternals" to Bro once, and I called it "The Greatest Comic Ever Made by Anyone Whose Name Wasn't Jack Kirby". That way I can call it a Greatest Comic Ever while still admitting that it's not quite as good as the Fantastic Four, Thor, the Fourth World or OMAC. Having said that, that scene where the Prime Celestial has the Formula for Eradicating All Life on Earth on HIS THUMB is the single most Awesome Page of Comics Art Ever. Just saying.
I've been rereading some stuff lately. I was rereading Bill Sienkowitz's "Stray Toasters", or I should say, I'm trying to reread it. "Stray Toasters" was an odd book that Mr. Sienkowitchz created for Marvel's long buried EPIC line back in the 80s. The imagery from the book has been a definitive influence on my own style, most notably in the creation of Broken Tea Cup (even the name was a subtle nod to "Stray Toasters" as well as Ted McKeever's "Plastic Forks", another influence). The story behind "Stray Toasters" is about isolation, child abduction, madness, and... um, other stuff. The art is the real draw of the comic, as Sinkowickowitchowsky experiments with Art and Storytelling in all sorts of wild and dynamic ways. It's a purty comic, make no mistake. But...it's...well...it's kinda boring. It's not just that the art is so indecipherable that you have to devote tons of effort just to try to figure out what the hell is going on. Okay, that's part of it. But, it's just not a very interesting or entertaining story. To make matters worse the overly complex artwork largely succeeds in distancing the reader from the characters, who probably would be fairly complex and interesting if they weren't portrayed in such a wooden and distant manner. In my opinion, if you want to argue the validity of Substance trumping Style, this book is a good example of how a book that's all Style and no Substance can be weak. All in all, I'm glad I've got a copy, but I think there was a reason why this particular comic has been largely lost to antiquity.
Before I continue, I'd like to note that is possible to create a comic that is visually interesting/experimental that still has a compelling story with deep characters. If you've never read it, Dave McKean's excellent "Cages" is a perfect example of a brilliant marriage of Style and Substance.
I also just reread Jack Kirby's "The Demon". The Demon is kinda odd in that it's the only Kirby creation from the 70s that other people actually did more with than Kirby. What I mean is that, honestly, all of Kirby's most famous creations from the 60s were eventually taken up by other creators and improved upon. (I would like to take a second to note how hard it was for me to make the preceding statement. I am literally gritting my teeth as I write this. But as devoted as I am to the King, there's no denying the success of Claremont's X-Men, Byrne's Fantastic Four, Simonson's Thor, Peter David's Hulk, and...um... I dunno, pick your favorite Avengers writer and insert their name here. I'm partial to Busiek's run myself. Having said that, NONE of those guys have ever matched the Raw Power and Inventiveness of those original Kirby books. Whew, I feel better now.) Anyway, most of Kirby's 70s creations were never successfully improved upon. Lots of people tried, but no one was ever able to get a grip on this horde of bizarre characters and concepts (which, incidentally, is why I'm I enjoy the 70s work so much. It's pure Kirby, and there's nothing anyone else has done to compare it to). Except for the Demon. Lots of people have used the Demon to great effect. He's had Series, Mini-series, and played a minor role in several notable works, including Neal Gaiman's "Sandman" and Alan Moore's "Saga of the Swamp Thing". With the possible exception of Darksied, he's appeared in more Animated Stuff than any other Kirby character from the 70s. And there's probably a reason for that. "The Demon" was an odd duck for Kirby. Most of Kirby's Heroes fell into one of two categories: Die-Hard, Tough as Nails Soldiers Battling the Forces of Evil and Injustice OR Cosmic Hippies Seeking Peace and Enlightenment in a Chaotic Universe. Etrigan the Demon, on the other hand, is a Cackling, Reckless, Vicious Beast from Hell whose only interests appear to be remorselessly slaughtering the forces of evil and serving his master, Merlin. It was a horror series by a creator who had done just about every type of comic, ever, but had only dabbled in Horror.
Rereading the comic, at first, I was about to write it off. It's an awkward book in many ways. And there appears to be times that Kirby's just going through the motions, most notably in a three issue story arc where, once again, Kirby taps into his obsession with Frankenstien's Monster (seriously, one of these days I'm gonna count up how many times Kirby used a "Frankenstien" in his books. In fact, there's a Frankenstien-bit in Kirby's "Forever People" AND "Jimmy Olsen" just a year or two prior). BUT, all criticisms aside, having reread the comics, there's some pretty kick ass stuff in here. First off, NO ONE has EVER designed Monsters the way Kirby did. And the Demon is chock full of cool, crazy, bizarre monsters. The other thing that really clicked with me upon rereading this material was that there is an expertly executed sense of Mood in these comics. Whereas other creators (myself included) would use blood and gore to create a horrific atmosphere, Kirby used Atmosphere to create an oppressively Dark Mood. It's something I didn't really pick up on at first (cause I'm an idiot), but it's there. It's similar, in a way, to those Japanese Horror Films from the Early Millenium. As always, Kirby was ahead of his times. No surprise there.
Also, all the stuff with Klarion the Witchboy was inspired.
I'm also rereading "OMAC". I have no criticism of that series. It's the Greatest Comic Ever Made by Anyone in the History of Ever. Poor Kieth Giffen's got his work cut out for him.
Side Note: I was describing "The Eternals" to Bro once, and I called it "The Greatest Comic Ever Made by Anyone Whose Name Wasn't Jack Kirby". That way I can call it a Greatest Comic Ever while still admitting that it's not quite as good as the Fantastic Four, Thor, the Fourth World or OMAC. Having said that, that scene where the Prime Celestial has the Formula for Eradicating All Life on Earth on HIS THUMB is the single most Awesome Page of Comics Art Ever. Just saying.
Saturday, September 3, 2011
MONSTER KING-a-Go-Go!
Righty-right-right.
It's Saturday, so it's time for new MONSTER KING! We've got Pages 17-18 up starting at http://www.torcpress.com/mk17.html. In this issue, Luther Dirge, the Lawyer from Hell's Quest to Corrupt our valiant heroes comes to an abrupt end, with somewhat predictable consequences.
Oh, afore I forget, Page 17 was colored primarily using Watercolors. If you like the look of it, please drop me a line. If you think it looks like Crap, please, PLEASE let me know. I'm experimenting with color right now, trying to figure the approach I want to take next year. So, PLEASE, Feedback. Pretty please? With Sugar on top?
Other than that, work continues on the next DOP video, and I've got a couple of projects to complete. Shouldn't be a boring weekend at least.
It's Saturday, so it's time for new MONSTER KING! We've got Pages 17-18 up starting at http://www.torcpress.com/mk17.html. In this issue, Luther Dirge, the Lawyer from Hell's Quest to Corrupt our valiant heroes comes to an abrupt end, with somewhat predictable consequences.
Oh, afore I forget, Page 17 was colored primarily using Watercolors. If you like the look of it, please drop me a line. If you think it looks like Crap, please, PLEASE let me know. I'm experimenting with color right now, trying to figure the approach I want to take next year. So, PLEASE, Feedback. Pretty please? With Sugar on top?
Other than that, work continues on the next DOP video, and I've got a couple of projects to complete. Shouldn't be a boring weekend at least.
Friday, September 2, 2011
Well I Been Workin' in a Coal Mine
Right.
Work continues on the latest Dr. Orphyus Project Video. All of the artwork has been inked, now it's just a matter of coloring everything in Photoshop, and then assembling the actual animations. I've got a few done, but I got a ton more to do. No rest for the wicked.
New issue of Shonen Jump came out this week, and the Straw Hat Pirates of "One Piece" are very nearly on their way to the New World. Cool stuff.
New Recipe. Click n' Save!
CJ's Killa Thrilla Sammich
Ingredients:
1/2 of a Bagette, split lengthways
Onion and Chive Cream Cheez Spread OR Onion and Chive Pub Cheez
Minced Garlic (I prefer the pre-minced variety that come in those little jars)
Olives, sliced
Pepperoni
Brie Cheez, cut into slices
Instructions:
Preheat Oven to 350 Degrees. Open up Bagette. Spread Cream Cheez on bottom portion. Spread Garlic on top of Cream Cheez. Place a layer of Olives, then Pepperoni, and finally Brie on top. Smoosh it all down with the top layer of bread. Wrap in tin foil and place in oven. Let cook for 8-10 minutes. Remove from oven, unwrap, and enjoy the salty, creamy, messy goodness.
New Monster King Pages on Saturday.
Work continues on the latest Dr. Orphyus Project Video. All of the artwork has been inked, now it's just a matter of coloring everything in Photoshop, and then assembling the actual animations. I've got a few done, but I got a ton more to do. No rest for the wicked.
New issue of Shonen Jump came out this week, and the Straw Hat Pirates of "One Piece" are very nearly on their way to the New World. Cool stuff.
New Recipe. Click n' Save!
CJ's Killa Thrilla Sammich
Ingredients:
1/2 of a Bagette, split lengthways
Onion and Chive Cream Cheez Spread OR Onion and Chive Pub Cheez
Minced Garlic (I prefer the pre-minced variety that come in those little jars)
Olives, sliced
Pepperoni
Brie Cheez, cut into slices
Instructions:
Preheat Oven to 350 Degrees. Open up Bagette. Spread Cream Cheez on bottom portion. Spread Garlic on top of Cream Cheez. Place a layer of Olives, then Pepperoni, and finally Brie on top. Smoosh it all down with the top layer of bread. Wrap in tin foil and place in oven. Let cook for 8-10 minutes. Remove from oven, unwrap, and enjoy the salty, creamy, messy goodness.
New Monster King Pages on Saturday.
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