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June04, 2005 - [ComicBooknet E-Mag] CBEM 526.1 >> |
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------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Has someone you know been affected by illness or disease? Network for Good is THE place to support health awareness efforts! http://us.click.yahoo.com/rkgkPB/UOnJAA/Zx0JAA/bGIolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> ALL THE RAGE continues . . . I Liked The Old Armor With The Nose Adi Granov took time out of his busy schedule as the artist of the new Iron Man series written by Warren Ellis to answer a few questions: John Voulieris: Describe your art process to our readers. Is this something you have developed yourself? Adi Granov: It's a combination of all the things I have learned along the way through school and work. It's a blend of very traditional, real media, painting and digital coloring. All of the work is initially done in grayscale on paper with pencils and inks. This is where all design, layout and values are resolved and established. Then I scan the pages and color them in photoshop using a method mimicking airbrushing with transparent paints. And lastly I add all of the highlights, little details and special effects (such as smoke or glow) in order to make the image "pop". It's a laborious but fairly straightforward process. JV: What is your formal training? How did you break into the comics business? AG: I went to a couple of very different art schools. I started with 4 years at a very traditional fine arts school where the main focus was drawing and painting in the ways of old masters. It was a very low-tech kind of thing. After that I went to a 2- year trade school focusing on commercial illustration and modern means such as airbrush and computers. It was a lot of school but in the end it felt like it's given be a very solid, rounded, foundation from which to grow. JV: What issue of Iron Man are you currently working on? How far ahead are you? AG: I am still on issue 4. Since, obviously, we are running late, I don't have any kind of a lead. The issues literally go straight from my hands to the printer. JV: What format would you prefer for your next project (mini series, graphic novel, one shot)? AG: Actually, any of the above. Due to the nature of my work shorter, limited projects are much more appropriate, so probably a limited series of some sorts that could either come out in issues or all at once would suit me great. JV: Any hints as to your future projects? Any creators you want to work with? Any characters you want to tackle? AG: Oh, it's really hard to tell from this point being so deep into Iron Man. There are a couple of people I would really love to work with but I really don't want to jinx it. All in due time. This Has A "It's Worth The Wait" Factor Of Ten Out Of Ten Legion of Substitute X-Scripters There are rumors circulating that a certain writer of a top selling X-Men title has had trouble meeting his deadlines due to other commitments, and that recent issues have in fact been "ghost written" by another Marvel regular writer. Sources claim that this is why the recent issues have not been received as well by fandom and critics at large when compared to the previous ones. I've received this tidbit from two separate sources, but I still hesitate to name names, to avoid causing undue scandal. I'm awaiting further confirmation on this rumor. Let the speculation commence... This Has A "All New All Different" Factor Of Six Out Of Ten For a Fistful of Pencils Luke Ross (Samurai: Heaven and Earth) has been named as the artist on the new Jonah Hex series from DC written by Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti. DC has plans to bring back a few more of its western characters if Jonah Hex sells well enough. Potential characters vying for revival include Scalphunter and Bat Lash. This Has A "How Did You Get That Scar?" Factor Of Ten Out Of Ten Moore Please The internet is abuzz with the announcement that Alan Moore is leaving DC/Wildstorm after his current contract is up, due to the recent V for Vendetta movie marketing misquote. Moore will be taking some of his properties with him to new publishers. Prior to Moore leaving the ABC line behind, fans can still expect to see: The League of Gentlemen Original Graphic Novel entitled "Dark Dossier", a Top Ten original graphic novel, two more Tomorrow Stories one-shots featuring Jack. B. Quick, the Albion 6-issue mini series (scripted by his daughter Leah Moore), and a handful of Tom Strong stories to boot. Prior to his final Tom Strong issues, there will be a number of more guest creators at the reins including Warren Ellis, Grant Morrison, Steve Moore and Paul Gulacy. This Has A "Comet Rangers Would Have Been Sweet" Factor Of Eight Out Of Ten Variety is the Spice of Life Liam Sharp has announced a partial creator line up for the next issue of his anthology title Event Horizon. Some highlights: A 5 page story by Glenn Fabry A new Simon Bisley story A vampire tale by Alan Grant and Greg Staples A story by Steve Niles that Liam will illustrate Future issues will feature tales by Dave Gibbons, Sean Philips, Geoff Johns, Duncan Fergedo, Dougie Braithwaite, and Staz Johnson. This Has A "F*Cking Savages" Factor Of Nine Out Of Ten Spirit in the Sky There have been numerous hints from a variety of creators that DC is planning a new Spirit ongoing series. Creators rumored to be involved include Tim Sale and Darwyn Cooke. The last appearance of the Spirit was in the latest Escapist issue from Dark Horse Comics that featured a Spirit/Escapist team up written by Spirit creator Will Eisner, just prior to his passing away. This Has A "Domino Mask" Factor Of Seven Out Of Ten That's it for this week folks! A big "thank you" goes out to Adi Granov for taking the time to answer the questions despite being quite busy with a move and Iron Man! Blair will be back next week with even more news, rumors, speculation, and information. Please send him any and all gossip to blairm@silverbulletcomicbooks.com _________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------- [5] Interviews Paul Dale Roberts Silhouet98@cs.com Interview with: Gary Reed, Creator of Saint Germaine! Interviewed by Paul Dale Roberts, Publisher - Jazma Online! http://www.jazmaonline.com/ Question: Tell us something personal about yourself. Maybe where you were born, something about your family background, schools you attended, etc. Born and raised in Detroit, spent my early years in the projects, learned to adapt as I shared one bedroom with my four brothers but it didn't seem so bad. Now my kids complain if they don't all have their own TV in their own rooms. Decided I didn't want to work in a factory or join the military so I went to college. I have a Masters Degree in Biology and I was planning to go into molecular genetics. But I had a bookstore that I opened while in school and that took off into eventually four stores focusing on comics and then later, the publishing. After I sold my comic book stores and stopped publishing Caliber, I returned to biology about three years ago and started teaching college and really, really enjoy it. That and freelance writing keep me very busy. Question: What was the first comic book you ever read? I don't remember the first one. But I would read just about any of them including Harvey and Archie. My brothers and I used to travel from drug store to drug store and read as many as we could before we get kicked out of the store for not buying anything. Sometimes we could afford a comic or two and we all shared them. Question: What were your favorite comic books growing up? My earliest favorites that I remember were Legion of Superheroes, Daredevil, Dr. Solar, and the Metal Men. But I haven't read any of those in a long, long time. I think I also liked the original X-Men and Avengers as well. I was never that big a fan of Superman, Batman, or Spiderman as a kid although I did read them. Question: Please brief us about the trade paperback called Saint Germaine? It's a collection of the first complete storyline from issues originally released from Caliber Comics. It contains issues 1-4 plus the one-shot of Restoration which concluded the opening storyline. Its 168 pages and coming from Image in September. Question: For people unfamiliar about the storyline, can you give us a briefing. Saint Germaine is an immortal and for centuries, he traveled around the world, experiencing all aspects of humanity. For a long time, he was with his lover, Lilith but they split in the early 20th century. Both Germaine and Lilith feed off the memories of those dying and both are not sure what are their true memories as opposed to memories they've siphoned off during their long years. He begins to feel this new world is moving beyond him. He feels he is too stuck in the past and after Lilith left him, he starts to think about death...a real death. He's been without her for almost a century and he just feels the oppressive weight of humanity with its sufferings, wars, and technology. However, Lilith returns but she isn't too happy. She thinks his death would be a good idea and is eager to help him with that quest. Question: How can we order the Saint Germaine paperback from Desperado? Desperado's titles are released via Image so it can be obtained from wherever Image comics are sold. Best bet is probably to place an advance order through the Diamond Previews to make sure you get it. It's scheduled for a September release. Question: Where can we find more information about this paperback? What website? I set up a website and the address is www.saintgermaine.net. It has more information on the storyline, some reviews, some sample pages, and other stuff. Of course, you can also visit the Image website (www.imagecomics.com) and Desperado Publishing at www.desperadopublishing.com. Question: How did you come up with the concept of Saint Germaine? The comic character Saint Germaine is based on the real life Saint Germaine who was labeled as the "man who could not die". He was said to be immortal and was one in a group that they called the "Alchemists". Germaine was said to be involved in starting up Freemasonry and other secret organizations. I thought he sounded like an interesting character and decided to bring him to modern day, because after all , if he can't die, then he would still be alive. I added Lilith who in some versions or histories of the Judea-Christian religion was said to be the first woman created...before Eve. It just sort of grew from there. I've always liked history and this was a good way of weaving some historical aspects into stories in a very short and palpable manner. Question: Do you think the real Saint Germaine is still alive somewhere? Uh, no. I find the metaphysical and supernatural extremely interesting but I don't believe in it. Some things can't be explained and I leave it at that...and not try to conjure up a reason. Question: Do you have a website and if you do, what is the URL address? Yes, I have my own website that is separate from any individual titles or companies and that is www.garyreed.net. Took me a long time to come up with that name. Question: How can somebody contact you? I have contact information on my website and the Saint Germaine website. Or I can be contacted via calcomic@aol.com. Question: If you were stranded on a desert island, what 3 things would you bring with you and why? Hmmm. The first thing would be my wife, Jennifer for many reasons. Probably a set of Encyclopedia Britannica...that would keep me busy for a while. Maybe a computer so that I could order stuff I needed...most companies would ship to a deserted island, wouldn't they? Question: Your thoughts on the comic industry? That could take a long time as being a retailer, publisher, creator, and convention organizer, I've pretty much seen it from all angles. I'll try to be brief, though. I guess the best way to compare it is like a writer who has spent years putting together his story until it's the best it can be and then he's ready to show it off. And no one cares. The comic industry has produced some great stuff but no one cares. I don't mean Hollywood, I mean the mass-market public that the comic establishment have always thought...once they see it, they will also love it like we do. You know what? They have seen it...and they don't care. I don't pay much attention to the market now but my impression is that the sales are incredibly low. I see what they're doing to some of the long running titles and I can see why new people are not pulled in. The market seems to be in a vicious cycle of being produced by comic fans, sold to comic fans, and only appealing to comic fans. It doesn't have much chance of broadening the base. No one says it has to, but that always seems to be the quest by the publishers. But superheroes aren't going to do it. Look at where new readers are coming in....it's the manga books that cover virtually any topic...its' the mass market publishers who branch off into doing classic literature, or history comics, or rock comics....that seems to be the area that has future growth potential. I grew up reading comics yet very few comics appeal to me nowadays. I can't even stomach to look at Spiderman, Avengers, or X-Men nowadays. I understand that for long time fans, there has to be some kind of re-invention on these characters, can't just keep doing it the same thing for decades, but I just think the major comic titles have a built in audience and its just rehashing it over and over, trying to make it more sophisticated as the reading base matures, but I don't think new readers are coming in. There is some good stuff out there and some incredibly talented people but walking into a store, it almost feels like a chore to find it. But I still think comics is one of the great mediums...I just hope that we can find a way to bust out but I'm not counting on it....hoping though. It's not the medium itself is lacking, it's the subject matter and exposure. I don't think there's an easy answer. Question: Your 3 favorite fictional heroes and why? Sherlock Holmes jumps to my mind. Just loved his logic and emotional detachment yet he often got very emotional. After that, it's rather difficult. I use to like the Phantom quite a bit...maybe Robin Hood or King Arthur. Question: Your 3 real life heroes and why? I always appreciated Isaac Asimov who was a great writer in science fiction and non-fiction, so I'd guess him. Charles Darwin...here was a guy that stood against everything he had formerly believed in because he saw logic in something different. Daniel Boone who was a true frontiersman as opposed to Davy Crockett. Boone's life was incredible and seems almost unbelievable that you'd think it was fiction. Question: What cons are you going to? I don't have any plans at the moment. I went to almost all of them as a publisher because it was a necessity. I would go to hook up with some old friends but I haven't planned on any as my schedule and family keep me pretty busy. Question: What movies, cartoons and TV shows are your favorites? For movies, I guess my favorites would be Once Upon a Time in the West, The Wind and the Lion (a vastly under-appreciated film), and Angel Heart. I only watch movies now if they really appeal to me, not just to watch just anything. I've seem most of the classics and most of those have stood up pretty well even after all these years. Never was a big fan of cartoons that much although as a kid, I used to love The Herculoids and Space Ghost. For TV, I just don't watch that much. I tend to dislike sit-coms for the most part but there have been some decent ones. Sometimes I'll watch something that someone in the family is watching but mostly it's A&E, History Channel, or Discovery Channel. Question: What books do you read? Most of the year I read non-fiction and it varies on almost any topic. I don't read too much in biographies and I deplore any of the "self-help" books. Generally, I gravitate to things that I'm interested in writing about or learning...lots of science. I read a lot about any subject I'm writing about and for an upcoming book that I'm doing on The Beatles, I've read about 15 books on them over the last few weeks. About the only time I read fiction is on our camping trips. I'm a fast reader so I usually go through at least a book a day and usually that's when I get my fiction fixation. Recently, I read Shutter Island by Lehane who wrote Mystic River. I liked that one a lot and it would make a great movie. Also read Dan Brown's books as I had read the books that came out 10 years or so ago that first proposed the theories. (Holy Blood, Holy Grail), and I use to enjoy the serial killer novels but now they're all the same and I don't know if I read a book or not by reading the description. Question: What are your hobbies and recreational activities? My spare time is spent in reading. I like to go camping and I love to travel. I think I've hit every state in the U.S. except 4 but I'd like to get over to Europe and Asia more. Question: What comic books do you read now? I don't really read that much in comics currently. I still like almost anything Neil Gaiman does and when Alan Moore does something, I always check it out. For me, he's hit or miss but I can tell he's enjoying what he's doing even if I might not, so that's okay. I don't care for most superhero stuff so it just has to be something that appeals to me and that is rather scattershot currently. Question: If Saint Germaine became a Hollywood movie, who would play the character parts and why? Probably because of the baldness, I'd project someone like a Patrick Stewart but he might be getting too old...then again, Saint Germaine is an immortal so maybe he could still do it. Outside of that, I have nothing. No idea because I know if it was made into a movie, I wouldn't have much say in the matter anyway. Question: That ends the interview, any last words of wisdom? Always be honest and true to yourself and others. There's a lot of deceit in this world...just recognize it and move on. Don't let "those people" interfere with your life. Wow, that sounded a bit pompous...but you get the drift. ********* Interview with: Gary Carlson, Writer of Protoplasman! Interviewed by: Paul Dale Roberts, Publisher - Jazma Online! http://www.jazmaonline.com/ Question: Tell us something personal about yourself, the schools you went to, your family life or whatever you would like to disclose. I'm currently 48 years old. I grew in the midwest, all over the place in Wisconsin and northern Illinois. My family finally settled down in the northwest suburbs of Chicago and I went to college in the city at Columbia College Chicago, earning a BA in Illustration with a minor in animation. I won the first John Fischetti Memorial Scholarship, named after a famed political cartoonist and the school created a Masters program for me to study political cartooning. Unfortunately, I'm not that political, but I did get to meet with cartoonists Dich Lochar (Dick Tracy) and Morrie Brickman (Small Society). I was already switching to writing then, collaborating with Chris Ecker on comic strips. The LA Times Syndicate almost bought our strip and finally passed, so we turned our attention to comic books and started Megaton Comics, which was the precursor to Big Bang Comics. Question: What was the first comic book you ever read? The first one I remember was a World's Finest, with the first Composite Superman story. I was reading them before that, though - or at least looking at them. I started on comics when I was 4 or 5 years old. My brother was three years older than me so I got to read his. The kids in the neighborhood traded a lot, but it was mostly DC. I don't recall even noticing a Marvel comic until I was eight years old. Question: How did the concept of Protoplasman come about? With Big Bang Comics, we write & draw comics in the styles of the great creators of the past. Since the very beginning, people have been asking for our take on Jack Cole and Plastic Man, and Protoplasman is it. Like always, I try to change the character and the concept, yet still be able to tell the story in a Jack Cole-ish style. It's goofy and It's wacky and we mix in Cole's pre-code volence. I've had the basic concept for about ten years now. I first started working on it in 1995 with Richard "Grass" Green, but it's changed a lot since then. Question: Who is the artist on Protoplasman? Mort Todd is the artist and he's terrific and prolific. In addition to writing and drawing, he's also been an editor for Marvel and Cracked Magazine, among others. He's also a film- maker, writing and directing. You can find some of his work at http://www.comicfix.com Question: Who are some of the staff members of Big Bang Comics? Big Bang was developed and started by myself with Chris Ecker and Ed DeGeorge. Chris is better known as Tom King - the RAEL Tom King of Knight Watchman fame. Ed is a writer and editor and has written most of Dr. Weird's adventures, including a few issues for his own October Comics. It's been pretty much just me for the past few years, but Mark Lewis has been indispensable, helping to edit my work and doing logos and character designs. Question: Can you brief us about some of the titles coming out of Big Bang Comics, like Protoplasman, Ultiman Family, Knights of Justice? Ultiman Family is already out. It features a story starring Ultiman's Girl Friday Lori Lake, guest starring Ultiman and Zippy, a super powered chimp. There's also a story featuring Ultiman's daughter Ultragirl in an adventure with the Pantheon of Heroes in the future. Round Table of America: Personality Crisis features beautiful art by Carlos Rodriguez with a script by Pedro Angosto in which evil psychriatrist Dr. Archimedes E. Tipe returns to mess with the RTA's minds. The issue with the first Protoplasman adventure will also feature a Knight Watchman story titled "The Camera of Doom", which is an homage to Will Eisner. Jeff Austin is doing a fabulous ghosting job on that one. Question: How can someone order back issues of any of the Big Bang titles? Either see the back issue ad in the Ultiman Family book or check out the website, www.bigbangcomics.com to see what's available. The website will soon be revamped and get a major facelift. They have great things planned to make it an interactive site. Question: How can someone contact you? I can be reached by email at bigbangcomics@sbcglobal.net Question: Who are your 3 fictional heroes and why? Flash Gordon, James Bond & Sherlock Holmes, I suppose. Flash Gordon gets to fly rockets, shoot rayguns & sword fight and explore Mongo: Flying cities, hawk-people, underwater cities - what a place! James Bond was cool, calm and deadly. And all the girls were crazy about him. Holmes was just plain smarter than almost everybody, but his older brother Mycroft was one of the exceptions. I always believed in the friendship between Holmes & Watson. Question: Who are your real life heroes and why? Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys is a genius! He was so ill used by the band and was so far gone in depression it's amazing that he's still alive and producing damn good stuff. The fact that he was able to go back and finally finish the legendary SMILE album is amazing! My older brother Jeff was always my hero, even on the days I hated him! He was three years older than me and didn't mind getting stuck with me too much when we were kids. He passed on his love of comic books and music to me. He was an unbelievable father to his kids and almost everybody's best friend. He died way too young. I would've gone in his place if given the chance. Question: What comic books do you read now? It's sad. I'm not reading many comics at all. I seem to spend all my money on DC's retro action figures. I do love the Teen Titans book again and buy Savage Dragon religiously. I like Superman/Batman and most of Jeph Loeb's stuff. Alan Moore. Frank Miller. Otherwise, it's whatever catches my eye when I finally get to a shop. Too many comic books seem like illustrated novels these days to me. Question: What cons will you be attending? Probably none. I made it to the Wizard show in Chicago last year, but can't this year. My 9 to 5 job runs Thursday through Monday, which makes it hard for me to get weekends off. Maybe next year, if we can get these books onto image's schedule. Question: Your thoughts on the comic book industry. I'm pretty much on the fringes these days. Writing for the big companies was never my real goal. The market still seems pretty glutted to me. Too many comics today seem like illustrated stories than a combination of story 7 art. Question: What are your recreational activities & hobbies? I'm boring: music, books and the Green Bay Packers are my passions. Shoveling snow for thalf the year, since I live in northern Wisconsin. I'm a transplanted Illinoisan and don't participate in the normal Wisconsin recreational drinking and hunting. I spend most of my time at the computer working on Big Bang in some form or another. Question: What books are your favorites? All-time favorite books include Dune, the Sherlock Holmes canon, the Seventh Sword trilogy. I'm currently a big fan of the Harry Potter books. It'd be great to get kids that interested in reading comics. I tend to read a lot of hard boiled mystery and science fantasy. Favorite writers are Dave Duncan, David Handler, Richard Stark, Loren Estleman, Stephen R. Donaldson, Tolkien. Chandler, Mickey Spillane, Will Eisner. Question: What are your favorite cartoons, movies, TV shows? Cartoons: Everything by Pixar has been fantastic! Home Movies was my current favorite among modern stuff. Tex Avery was a genius. Astro Boy has remained a sentimental favorite since I was five. It was as influential to me as comic books. The Simpsons was great for a long time. It's slipped a bit recently. I've enjoyed the Teen titans show for the most part. Movies: Old musicals, the Thin Man & Andy Hardy series, James Bond (especially Connery). O' Brother Where Art Thou is right at the top of the list. The Spiderman movies have been phenominal. Pixar again, Pulp Fiction. TV Shows: I don't really watch a lot of TV. Smallville and Monk are two that I actually look for these days. I watch ER with my wife. George Reeves' Superman and Adam West's Batman are at the top of my all time faves. Channel 32 in Chicago used to run Buster Crabbe's Flash Gordon serials on Sundays and I never missed it. The Avengers, Banyon, SCTV, the original Star Trek! I love the Biography Channel and I think that Rachael Ray is a doll! Music: 60's rock like the Beatles, Kinks & Monkees; 70's punk like the New York Dolls, the Sex Pistols & the Damned; 70's glam like T. Rex, Sweet, Gary Glitter & Slade. Powerpop like the Nerves, Shoes, Badfinger, Raspberries, Romantics & the Flamin' Groovies. Question: If Protoplasman becomes a movie, who should play the character parts and why? Jim Carrey would be a perfect Protoplasman, just as he'd be for Plastic Man. Graham Greene would make a great Willie Wampum. ******** Thanks for subscribing to the Comic Book Network Electronic Magazine (CBEM) --------------------------->Disclaimer<--------------------------- This is an ANNOUNCE only mailing list, only the Editor can send messages to the list. No one else has access to the subscriber list. Replies to these messages will be received by the Editor ONLY, so you must CC: individual contributors if you want them to get your E-Mail. The E-mail to the E-mag MAY be used in future issues at the Editor's discretion UNLESS you specifically request that they not be. It is our policy to withhold names and/or Addresses, by request only, from letters of comment. All contributors are required to use their real name and have a valid Email address for their columns to be published. Send Email comments to: ComicBkNet@aol.com Material for inclusion in the Emag - press releases, solicitations, column submissions, Letters to the Editor, guesses for the trivia contest should be sent to ComicBkNet@aol.com The EDITOR, not the submitter, has final approval and edit rights on ALL material. Printed comic books and advanced copies for review in the Emag should be sent via US Mail or UPS to David L. 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June04, 2005 - [ComicBooknet E-Mag] CBEM 526.1 >> |
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