7 posts tagged “comic”

While I'm wiating for my edition of the Black Dossier to arrive I've been looking around and I've found that the ever reliable Jess Nevins has already got his extensive annotations posted.

Nevins has already published two books about the first LOEG volumes and his website contains annotations to other complex comics including Kingdom Come, Top Ten and Smax.

If you want to know the meaning of Mina's Pseudonym and other gems then check it out. But SPOILERS, read the book first.

I was looking at my bookcase last night for something to read and I felt in the mood for something that I haven't looked back on for a while and as I scanned the shelves I hit on a Vertigo one shot that was like a mini trade.

Dhampire: Stillborn

That came from 10 years ago in 1997. Written by Nancy A Collins who was better known for her novels "Sunglasses after Dark" and the spin off comic series Sonja Blue came this one off which I picked up when I was getting everything Vertigo.

It's about young Nicholas Gaunt, who all his life has been tormented by visions of blood and evil, driving him to sadistic and suicidal acts. But when he learns that these violent thoughts stem from an unnatural mingling of human and undead blood before his birth, he must confront his true nature as a half-vampire, or dhampire.

As you can see it's not your average superhero book but I I've always liked things that are more than that.

It's a great book for those tho are into the whole Vampire Mythos and the way it was written leaves you wanting more at the end and it also has the feeling that it could have continued.

Nicholas had spent most of his life with something bugging him and wanting to find out more about death. At 3 he was found by his mother dissecting a pet rabbit to see what was inside it. So from the word go you know there was something wrong with him.

He Goes through numerous suicide attempts and eventually gets put into a mental hospital to see if they could find out what all this was stemming from.

The book is a great read and I didn't remember much of it so I was wrapped in the way Nancy did the story.

Also the are looked as each page was painted and was done by Paul Lee Who first appeared in Dark Horse Presents #101 in September 1995 but would be better known by myself for December 1997s Hellblazer/The Books of Magic (1997) #1 - 'Book One: Ascent', January 1998s Hellblazer/The Books of Magic (1997) #2 - 'Book Two: Descent' and March 1998's The Dreaming (1996) and also he has most recently been seen doing the pencils for Conan - #36 "Silent to the Sea".

It has a rough look to it as if you could brush your fingers across the page and feel the paint and it suited the story perfectly.

If you can find this I'd grab it... Even tho it only took me one evening to read it will lurk on your mind and make you wish she had written more to go with it since the ending could have seen more spawn from it.

Hope you like my little review! 

I was lucky enough to get an interview with Grant Bond and Ed Lavallee, the Creators of the Revere Mini Series. I have the guys from Comic Geek Speak to thank for bringing this book to my attention as it is one that I look forward to each month.

Now on with the interview!

What initiated your interest in comics?

Grant: I attribute it to two people really. My grandmother and George Lucas. My grandmother was a great painter who challenged me from a very early age to create and I would say sparked my first interest in storytelling. George Lucas opened my eyes to what you could do with storytelling. Star Wars changed my life. My first comic was a Star Wars fanzine when I was about 8 years old. I did it cover to cover with colours and lettering duties done by a much tinier version of yours truly. 

Ed:  For as long as I can remember I have always been interested in art and comic books. It all started way back in the days of old spin racks at the local pharmacy or convenience stores. The brilliant colours and cool looking characters always caught my attention. Lucky for me my mom never discouraged me from reading comics. She's was always supportive of the funny books. Thanks mom. 

Was it always your dream to draw/write for comics or did you somehow ‘fall into it’?

Grant: I would say I was drawn to it. Insert pun joke here. I saw the way line could be used to convey emotion and feeling. To a kid like me some of that art was almost magical. It was also escapism in a way. I had a less than savoury childhood like most and comics helped me sort of deal with the world around me I think. I wanted nothing more than to draw funny books for most of my life. I stopped for about ten years to become an adult and get an adult job but it didn't work out. Basically I was miserable. I decided I would pretty much rather be dead than live out my life not pursuing my dreams. Even as childish as they are. I am happy now. I think I will be even happier if/when my dreams come true.

Ed:  I actually never really knew what I wanted to do growing up as a kid. I just knew I wanted to be involved in art/media somehow. As time progressed and I went to college I realized how hard it is to actually draw the human figure! That didn’t discourage me from art though, just from wanting to draw comics.

I actually have a degree in graphic design and have been working as a graphic designer for the past 10 years. Writing comics came along during college and more recently for me.

Who do you look up to as influences?

Grant: So many names... Eisner, my grandmother, Romita Sr., Buscema, Jack Davis, Rockwell, Bill Mauldin were all early influences. Nowadays, I see guys like Krigstein and feel I must step up my game big time.

Ed:  For writing and comics in general, my favourite is Mike Mignola and his character HELLBOY. Frank Miller without a doubt. Steve Niles, Jeph Loeb. Warren Ellis.

I’m also influenced by others outside of comics, mainly movies and books. I like Tarantino, Rodriquez, Scorcese, Scott, Salvatore, Tolkien and Martin to name a few.

Can you give the outlining plot for ?

Grant & Ed:  The quick rundown of from the actual pitch:

A supernatural killer stalks the townspeople of Boston, and renowned silversmith and monster-hunter, Paul Revere is called in to fight the evil. While tracking down clues to the killer’s identity, the first shots of the revolution are fired and finds himself battling a war on two fronts in a struggle to save his family.

What made you choose Paul Revere as a character and also the setting of the American Civil war? (You’ll have to forgive my ignorance since I’m not American)

Grant: I better let Ed handle this one!

Ed:  I think the whole thing that sold me on Paul Revere was the mystique surrounding his fateful ride that night on April 18th. After that it was the fact that he was actually a renowned silversmith by trade.

Silver and werewolves go hand in hand, so at that point it was a no brainer.

The first book was enthralling, the art complemented the story and the mood was set by both. How has the reaction been to the book so far?

Grant: Really good. 99.9% of the stuff I have heard is absolutely positive. I am new to the game though. I am hopeful people would be willing to share criticisms as well as compliments. I have hopefully have made it clear to everyone I have talked to that I want open honest feedback. All I get are compliments so I suppose I should go with it.  I think we are telling a great story with a highly recognizable character and people will continue to enjoy the story with some of the future surprises we have brewing for our historic monster hunter.

Ed:  The reaction to the book has been great. We really haven’t heard any negative feedback on the story or art. That makes me kind of nervous, but we're going into issue 3 this month without hide nor hair of any negative comments. That doesn’t mean there aren't things that can be improved upon. We just haven't heard anything negative.

Will we see a return of after the mini has finished? Any chance of an ongoing series?

Grant: I believe we are sticking to the mini series format. Ed has several very interesting and solid ideas for upcoming minis I am hopeful we get a chance to tell.

Ed:  I am hard at work right now doing research for the next mini series. Revere has never been planned as an ongoing. If the demand was there for a monthly I am sure grant and I would be all for it.

How did the two of you come together to work on ?

Grant: I initially hired Ed to letter a submission on a book that is yet to see publication. I am excited to say I am talking to interested people now and it looks like it will happen when the time is right. Ed had this concept for a book called , so I was doodling concept art for it off and on jokingly during correspondences with him. He eventually said in one email he was looking to make the submission pack a paid assignment so I was all ears at that point.

Ed:  Grant and I met at a local Comic Convention in Kansas City. I was promoting my other book, ARCHEON at the time and Grant was walking the floor showing his wares and looking for a letterer. I ended up doing some lettering for him on a submission pack he was working on. The rest is history.

What other projects are you currently working on?

Grant: Yikes. I keep getting asked this question and I keep saying the same thing. I do have several projects I am working on with established creators. I am hopeful some official announcement comes soon! I know Ed and I are gearing up for another mini. I actually can say I have been commissioned to do a piece of individual art for an auction this fall for a very good cause by Thank You Walt Disney, Inc. to help in the restoration of the Laugh-O-gram Studio building in downtown KC. Please check out my site @ www.grantbond.com or my MYSPACE profile @ www.myspace.com/tinycowboyhat for more information on this great cause in the next few months to come.

Ed:  Right now, my main focus is getting vol 2 written and ready to go. I have a few other irons in the fire at the moment, but nothing ready to go. My other stories are mainly in the idea/plotting phase.

If you were able to be on any book what would it be?

Grant: Right now? Something with Frank Miller or Steve Niles. 

Ed:  HELLBOY, of course!

What other work have you done?

Grant: In Comics? None! Actually, I did some ghost inking an old friend of mine back in the early nineties on a book called Scimidar. That's about it really. I am a newbie man.  

Ed:  I did a creator owned, self-published book called ARCHEON. I did 2 issues of it through the Digital Webbing imprint line. That was a long time ago. I actually still have an ARCHEON TPB in the works. I'm just waiting on a single page of artwork from my artist. I hope to find a new publisher for it, so stay tuned.

Once more I'd like to thank Ed and Grant for letting me interview them and everyone should now go out and grab the first 2 issues!

To read more about Revere go to Alias Enterprises or The Official Revere Site and as Grant mentioned you can get in touch with him from his site or myspace account as mention within the interview.

As a few of you know we have a convention coming up in October. Now I know it's a little way off but unlike all you guys in the US we don't have them going on all over the place so having one is a big thing to us hehehe.

This year Supanova is moving back to the Exhibition Hall at the Sydney Showground, Sydney Olympic Park for the October 27 to 29 from so it should be even better with the bigger venue.

So far this is who is coming to it:

•  Mira Furlan from Lost and Babylon 5
•  Kevin Weisman from Alias and Clerks 2
•  Dirk Benedict from Battlestar Galactica and A-Team
•  Crispin Freeman from Hellsing (Alucard) and Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children (Rude)
•  Vic Mignona from Fullmetal Alchemist(Ed) and DragonBall Z (Broly)
•  Darren Dunstan from Yu-Gi-Oh! (Pegasus) and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Splinter)
•  Jason Poulos from Hairbutt the Hippo
•  Marianne de Pierres writer of the Parrish Plessis series: Nylon Angel, Code Noir and Crash Deluxe
•  Sonny Whitelaw writer of Stargate SG:1 The Chosen and City of the Gods
• Summer Glau - star of Serenity and Firefly
• Bruce Spence - from the Mad Max, Matrix, Lord of the Rings and Star Wars trilogies
• Arthur Suydam - fantasy and Marvel Zombies artist
• Rowan Cassidy - writer & artist of "Minute of Angle", concept artist, film storyboarder and designer
• Gary Frank - artist of the Incredible Hulk, Squadron Supreme and Midnight Nation
• David Yardin - artist of Storm, Black Panther and District X

I should be meeting up with a few of the guys from the CGS Forums as well as the few friends that will be coming along with me so it should be a great couple of days out.

Also I should be doing some reports for Comic Timing as a convention wrapup (hopefully with some of the other CGS guys).

If any more infomation comes up I'll be sure to let you know about it.

As it states in my profile I'm a long time comic fan. And as well as getting alot of podcasts these days I don't mind the odd audiobook as a change of pace for long trips or for something different to listen to when I have the chance so I did some searching and I found http://www.pendantaudio.com (Pendant Productions) that do a heap of Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Comic based Audiobooks which are released once a month and don't run for more than 20 mins each one...

So far I'm getting the Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman ones but I have been tempted to also get the Star Trek one since it's all about the Defiant.

I seriously recomend getting some of these since they are free and do give you the feel of the Old Time Radio Shows.