Articles by rick-marshall
Tue Jul 22, 2008 — by Rick Marshall
8 Books to Find at Comic-Con
The Comics Reporter's must-see list for Comic-Con
There's far too much to see, do, find and run like hell away from during San Diego Comic-Con, so I always enjoy finding notable, specific lists of panels, projects and events that focus on the subject matter that most piques my interest. Over at The Comics Reporter, Tom Spurgeon has highlighted eight small-press projects to hunt down at this year's show, offered up some ideas about where to find them and provided a synopsis of each project.
Here's an excerpt from the list with accompanying image:
Permagel, Charles Burns, Buenaventura Press, Booth 1732
Get ready for this Fall's big release of the Giant-Sized new volume of Kramer's Ergot by getting a beautiful, over-sized Charles Burns import. Buenaventura Press always has one of the three or four must-see booths of the show because of the number of beautiful prints it offers. It's fun just looking at that stuff, and a lot of it has to be seen in person. So does this book.
Spurgeon tends to be a pretty reliable guy when it comes to this sort of thing, as he's pointed me in the direction of quite a few projects that not only became favorites of mine, but also did so well before they were celebrated in the more mainstream outlets.
Tue Jul 22, 2008 — by Rick Marshall
Superhero Movies: The Blockbuster List
Movie site compiles list made for "swamp monster" marathons and "capes and tights" movie nights
Blockbuster.com has been my preferred movie-by-mail service for more than a few years now, so it was a nice surprise to see them calling out an impressive number of films based on comics in their big summer promotional list.
The list is actually pretty comprehensive, and includes a few titles I wasn't expecting to be on Blockbuster's radar as comics-inspired projects (i.e., Road to Perdition). It's a great starting point for anyone looking to put together a comics-movie marathon this season, or perhaps a themed alternative to the Comic-Con chaos kicking off this week on the West Coast.
Heck, they even included Man-Thing!
(via Scott Hinze)
Tue Jul 22, 2008 — by Rick Marshall
ComicMix at San Diego Comic-Con 2008
What's ComicMix doing at the show? Now you know!
San Diego Comic-Con 2008 kicks off Wednesday night in Southern California, and ComicMix will be on location, bringing you everything you need to know -- and some things you might not realize you needed to know -- about the people, places and geekery that make it one of the most anticipated (or in some cases, feared) events of the year for fans of comics and comics culture.
This year, the ComicMix team will be all over the show, providing you with all of the interviews, daily con reports, audio, video, blogging and photo galleries you've come to enjoy here. Our podcast team will be broadcasting each day of the show with special guests from the worlds of comics, TV and film, while the rest of our audio and video crew will be doing their best to capture the people, panels and general vibe of the show for ComicMix readers. If you're looking to connect some faces with ComicMix names, be sure to check out our official Meet & Greet Schedule at Booth #2308.
Throughout the show, we'll be updating our San Diego Comic-Con 2008 News Archive with links to every Comic-Con story we post, and if all goes as planned, there should also be a fancy button on the right side of the homepage for quick access to Comic-Con news.
Keep in mind that you can also follow all of our updates on the official ComicMix Twitter Feed, as well as ComicMix on Friendfeed.
Tue Jul 22, 2008 — by Rick Marshall
Barry Blitt's Other New Yorker Covers
Courting controversy long before Obama-gate...
There's been quite the hub-bub over artist Barry Blitt's recent New Yorker cover featuring presidential candidate Barack Obama dressed in traditional Muslim garb and surrounded by various jingo-tastic symbols in the Oval Office, and you can catch up on some of the debate via ComicMix Editor-in-Chief Mike Gold's recent column, "We Will Think For You."
However, ComicMix reader Simon Owens recently posted a pair of past New Yorker covers created by Blitt that might be of interest to anyone following this story, too.
In all the news coverage over the controversial New Yorker cover depicting the Obamas as terrorist extremists, I haven’t seen many mentions of other works by Barry Blitt, the artist of that cover. Two of his covers last year — which I’m posting below — were among the best the magazine has featured in years.
This first one had every political cartoonist in America smacking his head, saying, “Why didn’t I think of that?”
Thanks for the tip, Simon!
Tue Jul 22, 2008 — by Rick Marshall
Interview: David Willis on "Shortpacked"
Toys, wonderful toys... and some crappy ones, too.
As the opening day of San Diego Comic-Con International looms ever closer, it seems only right to turn the spotlight on a webcomic that draws from the world of comic books and toy collecting -- the often-overlapping fan cultures that have long provided the backbone of the comic convention scene. With that in mind, this week's interview subject is David Willis, the author of one of the toy scene's most popular webcomics, Shortpacked!
Since ending his celebrated series It's Walky! in 2005 and turning his full attention to Shortpacked, Willis has managed to elevate his semi-autobiographical account of the lives of toy store employees to a prominent role in collectible toy culture -- so much so, in fact, that Willis currently produces both the original, ongoing Shortpacked series and a special version of the comic for Toy News International, one of the most popular toy news sites on the 'Net.
While much of the series chronicles the oddball cast of characters who work at the toy shop where the series' main character, Ethan, earns a paycheck, the series often detours into commentary on superhero culture, contradictions and fandom, and rarely shies away from poking fun at the fan culture it calls its own.
I spoke with Willis about the origins of Shortpacked, his decision to "pull the drama tag" in the series, and what toys are on his must-buy list for this year's Comic-Con.
COMICMIX: Can you tell me a bit about the reason you started Shortpacked? I know it started out semi-autobiographical, but what elements of your life at the time inspired you to run with Shortpacked and end It's Walky!, your previous series?
DAVID WILLIS: It's Walky! was coming to its natural end, and I wanted to try something different. I've collected toys for most of my life, but what really spawned Shortpacked! was working for a few years at Toys "R" Us. So much of retail work is spoofable. Laugh at the "Customer Protection Rackets" in Shortpacked! all you want, but they're real. They're just called something slightly nicer.
Mon Jul 21, 2008 — by Rick Marshall
Interview: Jeffrey Brown on 'Sulk' and the 'Incredible Change-Bots' Toys
The 'Clumsy' creator chats about his upcoming series and toy line
There's a lot to like about the contradictions surrounding award-winning writer/artist Jeffrey Brown (I Am Going to be Small). His intensely personal work isn't the first thing that comes to mind when considering properties destined to become action figures, but that didn't stop Devil's Due Publishing from licensing the characters from Brown's Incredible Change-Bots series for their new "Pop" line of collectible toys -- the first of which is scheduled for an August release.
In contrast, the work of Brown and several of his peers recently became the focus of an exhibit in the Galerie Anne Barrault in Paris, France. The exhibit, titled "Midwest," promises to explore "the American Midwest, a huge, flat, agricultural area around Chicago, stretching over several states, swept by the winds, dotted with the Great Lakes."
I recently had the chance to speak with the soft-spoken Brown about the Incredible Change-Bots toy deal, as well his upcoming projects and the overseas exhibit of his work.
COMICMIX: How did Change-Bots get connected with Devil's Due, Jeff?
JEFFREY BROWN: Tim Seeley happens to live around the corner from me and we shop at the same local comic shop. Sam Wells happened to be a groomsman in a wedding that my girlfriend and I were attending, so I met him there.
So I knew all of these people at Devil's Due. They had the Change-Bots book sitting around, and came to me with the idea.
Continue reading Interview: Jeffrey Brown on 'Sulk' and the 'Incredible Change-Bots' Toys ›
Mon Jul 21, 2008 — by Rick Marshall
Doctor Who in Review: Season Four, Episode #11 - Turn Left
The best intentions of bugs and Billie Piper...
The hit BBC series Doctor Who
Every week, I'll do my best to go through the most recent episode with a fine-tooth comb (or whatever the "sonic screwdriver" equivalent might be) and call out the highlights, low points, continuity checks and storyline hints I can find to keep in mind for future episodes. I'll post the review each Monday, so you have ample time to check out the episode once it airs each Friday at 9 PM EST on Sci-Fi Channel before I spoil anything.
Missed a week? Check out the "Doctor Who in Review" archive or check out any of the past editions of this column via the links at the end of this article.
Keep in mind, I'm going to assume readers have already watched the episode when I put fingers to keyboard and come up with the roundup of important plot points. In other words, SPOILER ALERT!
Let's begin now, shall we?
Season Four, Episode #11: "Turn Left"
Continue reading Doctor Who in Review: Season Four, Episode #11 - Turn Left ›
Mon Jul 21, 2008 — by Rick Marshall
Chess Boxing and Comics
Frivolous use of the pawn makes the legs weak, Rock!
Time Magazine recently turned the spotlight on a sport that's worth noting here for two reasons: First, it sounds so bizarre that it could have been ripped off the pages of a comic book; and second, it was pulled from the pages of a comic book.
Welcome to the world of "Chess Boxing," folks.
The chess-boxing combo traces its roots back to a 1992 comic book, titled The Nikopol Trilogy, in which the men of the future box on a chessboard floor. The image inspired Dutch artist Iepe Rubingh to hold — and compete in — the first official chess-boxing bout in Amsterdam in 2003.
According to Time, chess-boxing competitors "alternate between three-minute rounds of boxing and four-minute rounds of speed chess, with one-minute breaks in between to get the gloves off and hunker down at the chess table." Victories are earned via knockouts, checkmates, or referee decisions.
The current Chess Boxing champion is a19-year-old Russian math student -- which makes it that much more interesting, as far as I'm concerned.
Sun Jul 20, 2008 — by Rick Marshall
Video: Batman Needs to Calm Down With the 'Dark Knight' Stuff
Actual poop!
Leave it to the folks at Cracked.com to create a Dark Knight-inspired video that includes Jim Gordon telling Batman, "You've apprehended 13 people over the past week for loitering and 12 of them were hauled into the station with poop in their pants. Actual poop!"
And it just gets getter (or worse, depending on your perspective) from there:
Fri Jul 18, 2008 — by Rick Marshall
Webcomic News Roundup: Perry Bible Fellowship and BoaSas Go Global!
What's all this talk about something happening in San Diego?
While preparation for San Diego Comic-Con has been keeping most webcomic creators busy these days, there's still a lot of news popping up that has nothing to do with how many boxes of t-shirts have been shipped to the West Coast. Here are some of the highlights:
Jill-of-all-trades comics journalist Laura Hudson recently conducted a really, really spectacular interview with Perry Bible Fellowship creator Nicholas Gurewitch for Publisher's Weekly. In the interview, Gurewitch reveals some details about a potential BBC project involving PBF:
I'll be adapting a couple of the strips for the pilot, and I just got the news the other day that they wanted to make it longer because they liked the 12-minute treatment I sent. They want to make it a 30-minute pilot. I'm actually working with a British television company, Endemol Entertainment. A number of people there had ordered some prints from me, and apparently someone brought them into the office. It became known amongst them that they really liked the comic, and [making the pilot] was just a decision that came about organically because of that. They all realized they liked the strip, and said, “Why don't we do a show?”
In more international news, Steven L. Cloud has left the country! The Boy on a Stick and Slither creator officially embarked on his globe-trotting "Mongol Rally" charity event this week. Once everything gets underway, Cloud has promised that you'll be able to follow the adventure via Twitter. Be sure to check out my interview with Cloud for his thoughts on the event, and this Google Map showing the route they plan to take.
Continue reading Webcomic News Roundup: Perry Bible Fellowship and BoaSas Go Global! ›
Fri Jul 18, 2008 — by Rick Marshall
SDCC '08: PopCandy Looms Large
Promo poster for meetup harkens back to the days of 50-foot women!
While keeping a running tally of all the events of note at this year's Comic-Con International is a job best left to the professionals, I can't help but draw attention to one event that caught my eye -- mainly because of its outstanding promotional art.
Check out the poster for Saturday evening's PopCandy Meetup, painted by USA Today illustrator Keith Simmons, and based on the original art from Attack of the 50 Foot Woman:
I'll certainly be there with one or more other members of the ComicMix crew, so if you're interested in dropping by, here are all of the details. Be sure to RSVP ahead of time, as PopCandy's Whitney Matheson has promised one-of-a-kind giveaways to everyone who does so.
Thu Jul 17, 2008 — by Rick Marshall
Watchmen Movie Trailer Image Gallery
Shots from the first trailer for the upcoming 'Watchmen' film!
When the Watchmen movie trailer hit the 'Tubes today, word traveled pretty quickly. Of course, so did the orders to take it down on various sites, making it difficult for some fans to find out what all the fuss was about. To that end, here's a collection of screenshots from various scenes that appeared during the trailer, so you can talk amongst yourselves about this first glimpse at the much-anticipated adaptation of Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons' graphic novel.
Here are a few images to whet your appetite, presented in order of their appearance in the trailer, but be sure to view the full gallery after the jump:
Thu Jul 17, 2008 — by Rick Marshall
'Watchmen' Trailer Debuts
First look at the new GN adaptation!
The headline pretty much says it all, as the trailer for the much-anticipated adaptation of Alan Moore and David Gibbons' groundbreaking graphic novel Watchmen was released on Empire Online today. The Empire Online video is down, but the trailer has found its way to YouTube, of course. (As various verisons get posted and taken down, I'll try to keep this thread updated with any that are still available. Be sure to check out our Watchmen trailer image gallery, too!)
(via a tip from UglyHill)
UPDATE: Well, you knew that was bound to happen. The YouTube video has been taken down, and the Empire Online page remains in a state of 404 Error. Here's hoping you were able to catch the trailer while it was floating around -- it was impressive, to say the least.
UPDATE: Thanks to another astute ComicMix fan, we've tracked down the trailer elsewhere on the 'Tubes and embedded it after the jump. (Thanks, RJ, Jr.!)
Thu Jul 17, 2008 — by Rick Marshall
Interview: Jeph Jacques on 'Questionable Content'
Webcomics and art of staying indie in Northern Massachusetts
Now approaching its fifth year on the World Wide Internets, Questionable Content has gone through quite a few changes since its beginnings as an indie-rock webcomic that chronicled the life, loves and culture criticisms of "music nerds" Marten, Faye and a surrounding cast of characters (which also included Marten's troublemaking, sentient "AnthroPC," Pintsize).
These days, the cast has expanded singificantly to include fan-favorite characters such as Marten's obsessive-compulsive neighbor, Hannelore, and the relationships between major and minor characters have been explored, dismissed, or in the case of Marten and the "Coffee of Doom" owner Dora, bloomed into long-term (by webcomic standards, at least) plot points. While drama has managed to carve a niche for itself in the world of QC, Jacques has similarly carved out a name for himself among the top-tier creators in the webcomic scene.
After wandering through the QC archives a bit, I was struck by the differences in those first strips posted back in August 2003 and today's QC. Both the art and the focus of the series have shifted dramatically in the last few years -- much moreso than many of the strips on my radar. With that in mind, I recently took the opportunity to pick Jacques' brain about the origins and development of the series and the nature of "indie cred."
COMICMIX: I'm familiar with the area QC is based on, so I think it would be interesting to hear your take on the setting for the series and how it compares to its real-world counterpart...
JEPH JACQUES: For those not In The Know™, QC is set in Northampton, Massachusetts, a smallish town in the western end of the state, home to Smith College. Northampton is a Very Fancy Town that likes to pretend it is actually a chunk of Manhattan that somehow got carried two hours due north (possibly via Hipster Albatross).
The QC version of Northampton corresponds roughly, at best, with its real-world counterpart. Many of the streets are the same (almost all the outdoor backgrounds are taken from real-life photographs) but there are differences. Coffee of Doom, for instance, exists on some bizarre meta-street that does not actually exist in the real world. The exact location of Marten's apartment building is similarly a mystery. Basically, I use the actual town layout when it's convenient, but break the rules whenever it suits me.
As for the cultural setting, from what I can tell Northampton is primarily young, liberal, Caucasian, and college-educated, and the cast of QC essentially reflects that.
Continue reading Interview: Jeph Jacques on 'Questionable Content' ›
Thu Jul 17, 2008 — by Rick Marshall
Heath Ledger, The Joker and the 'Dark Knight' Audio
We revisit a past interview with the man behind The Joker
Back in January, after the untimely death of actor Heath Ledger, we posted audio from an interview we had conducted with Ledger as part of a special edition of ComicMix Radio. In the interview, Ledger discussed his reasons for taking the role of The Joker in the Batman Begins sequel, as well as his thoughts on how best to prepare for the role. With the release ofThe Dark Knight fast approaching and Ledger's passing certainly looming large over the project, we thought the interview might be worth another listen for ComicMix fans.
With that in mind, we present (or re-present, in this case) the ComicMix Radio interview with Heath Ledger for The Dark Knight.
For more on The Dark Knight, make sure you don't miss our special Dark Knight-themed edition of ComicMix Six, featuring The Joker's Greatest Victories, as well as our recent list of Must-Read Batman Stories to get you caught up with the Dark Knight.
