Kirby Saturday: An Early Take On Darkseid
No Comments | Posted: June 30th, 2007 | Filed under: Uncategorized
"Stronger" by Kanye West
No Comments | Posted: June 30th, 2007 | Filed under: UncategorizedReproducing scenes from Akira, a big sample from and featuring an appearance by Daft Punk, and some well-done video effects? Well played, Mr West. Well played. (Via.)
(I could do without that “Me Likee” bit, though.)
Friday Night Fights: A Short To-Do List.
No Comments | Posted: June 29th, 2007 | Filed under: Uncategorized
Seriously, just go buy the book already.
This week, this is my favorite cover version ever.
No Comments | Posted: June 29th, 2007 | Filed under: UncategorizedAt the beginning of this video, they flash forward through the entirety of the “How can you expect to be taken seriously?” promo clip. That’s always amused me.
Comic News Post: June 29, 2007
No Comments | Posted: June 29th, 2007 | Filed under: Uncategorized
Harlan Ellison posted the following to his site last night:
RE: ELLISON v. FANTAGRAPHICS, INC., et al: THE LITIGATION BETWEEN THE PARTIES HAS BEEN RESOLVED. THE PARTIES ARE NOT AT LIBERTY TO DISCUSS THE TERMS OF THE RESOLUTION. AT THIS TIME.
While the terms of the settlement are not available to the public, the Fantagraphics Winter 2008 catalog does feature a book entitled Harlan Ellison, Harlan Ellison, Harlan Ellison: Essays About Harlan Ellison By Harlan Ellison Experts.
(Also: all of you who had June 28th in the pool, shoot me an email. I’ll settle up with you.)
The film adaptation of Marjan Satrapi’s graphic novel Persepolis has been pulled from the Bangkok International Film Festival. Citing international relations, Chattan Kunjara Na Ayutthaya has been yanked from the lineup. Said Ayutthaya: “It is a good movie in artistic terms, but we have to consider other issues that might arise here.”
Meanwhile, Bangkok Suckee Fuckee 2 is still available on DVD.
The [adult swim] cartoon Harvey Birdman, Attorney At Law will be airing its final episode in July. Fans of postmodern adult-humor versions of old cartoons should worry not, as a followup titled Huckleberry Hound: Attorney At Lust will debut on Cartoon Network this fall. The live-action series, done in the style of Saul of the Mole Men, will be produced by the Los Angeles-based FurryPride Productions.
And Now, A New Feature!In an (admittedly very good) interview with Jonathan Callan at Comic Book Resources, Brian Michael Bendis said the following:
Your work favors the sprawling conversation over the kind of terse, rhythmic patterns to Mamet’s dialogue.Mamet would do in five lines what I would do in a whole comic book. Yeah.
Congratulations, Bendis. You’re our first winner! Enjoy the shiny button, the $40 Red Lobster gift certificate, and the balloon bouquet from Frank’s World Of Balloons.
We’ll see you on Monday.
Relentless Self-Promotion: The Rack Talks About That Giant Robot Movie
No Comments | Posted: June 29th, 2007 | Filed under: Uncategorized
I wrote today’s installment of The Rack, Benjamin Birdie drew it, and now you can read it. Hooray!
The End Of The Gary Esposito Thing.
No Comments | Posted: June 28th, 2007 | Filed under: UncategorizedI’ve just received email from Tom Spurgeon, wherein it was revealed that Gary Esposito has admitted to him that he’s been harassing me under the name of “Steve Ebbling.” In response to this activity, Tom has removed Gary Esposito’s articles from The Comics Reporter and is no longer accepting any articles or photos submitted by Esposito.
I’d like to thank Tom for his patience through all this. Gary’s actions and my response placed him in an awkward position and he remained a gentleman throughout the whole ordeal. I encourage you all to frequent the now-Esposito-free Comics Reporter site.
Confused? Read my first post about Gary Esposito.
Here are some links that are relevant to your interests.
No Comments | Posted: June 28th, 2007 | Filed under: Uncategorized- Bahlactus is giving away copies of his favorite three issues featuring Galactus. The meta-ness of that statement has my head spinning. (The sweepstakes has been extended through next week.)
- Cautionary Tales of Swords needs to be watched with headphones if you’re at work. You’ll also need to stuff a sock in your mouth to keep your laughter from disturbing your coworkers.
- I’ve talked up the series before, and it looks like Atomic Robo is going to debut in October. I was so impressed with what I saw that I’ve already purchased a page of original art. It’s that charming, funny, and easy on the eyes.
- Take a look at The Peculiar Sci-Fi Costumes of David T. Smith.
- Pal Keef recently used an excerpt from my Cthulhu Tales story in his awesome audio collage program. I’m pretty sure it stunk the joint up a bit, but I still enjoyed hearing my dialogue aloud and not just echoing in my pea-sized brain.
- This thread on my forum features my favorite complaint so far about my heavy-handed administrative tactics. Thanks, Matt!
Comic News Post: June 28, 2007
No Comments | Posted: June 28th, 2007 | Filed under: UncategorizedWarren Ellis has announced that he’ll soon be writing a weekly column for SuicideGirls.com, a site featuring “alternative” nude models. He figured that after working for Marvel and Avatar Press, softcore porn was an upgrade.
The content provider uclick has announced that it will soon add the Image-published Umbra to its lineup of comics available through mobile phone around the world. “I’m very excited to be able to offer Umbra to an expanded global audience through uclick,” said series creator/writer Murphy.
And now, a word from our sponsor.
Andy Khouri at Comic Book Resources sat down to talk to Phonogram creators Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie. In the interview, the duo revealed the origins and motivations behind the Britpop-meets-magic series and revealed the cover for the first issue for the upcoming Phonogram prequel series.
Relentless Self Promotion: The Rack
No Comments | Posted: June 28th, 2007 | Filed under: UncategorizedThis Thursday sees the second of Mike Sterling’s contributions to The Rack wandering into the harsh light of day. Setting aside the fact that I think it’s a pretty darn funny script (I’m an easy mark for things like the second panel), Birdie’s artistic evolution continues right before our eyes.
Go, look, discuss in the forum.
Presented for your consideration.
No Comments | Posted: June 27th, 2007 | Filed under: UncategorizedSo, I just got this email:
Kevin,
This is Gary and Steve, and we apologize for trolling you on your website.
Steve does exist but his last name is not Ebbling, it’s Edwin, he just changed it because he wanted an alter ego when doing the trolling from our computers and wanted to join in the fun.
We did trolling from NY and in Bklyn (Steve) and we have nothing against you, we just were bustin’ balls since the first comments took place in 2005.We offer no excuses for what we did, we just like your website and writing and decided to bust your chops if we didn’t agree with what you said, which wasn’t a lot.
No real reason actually, we liked your website name and skill with the web.
It’s like morning radio (Stern, O&A, etc.) where you see how far to push the teasing and the joke until someone reacts, that’s the punchline.
You were a random target to bring a little excitement to the ennui of the comics blogasphere, before ugly statues and awful covers took over the discussion.
We would never threaten or give harm to you or anyone at all in any circumstance, we may be stupid asses, but not that stupid.In fact, we think you are a good guy and look forward to any future endeavors of yours and hope you will continue writing for comics.
Again we apologize for our behavior and hope we will all meet up someday and have a laugh about it.We give our word we will not bother you or anyone else ever again.
Feel free to post and make fun of, we know you will.
Forever Peace,
Gary Esposito
Steve Edwin
Simply put: this is inadequate.
Being told somebody is going to “see you” after they’ve spent around two years making hateful comments (in the name of the same sort of humor that gets guys like Mancow and those two yahoos who harassed the Chinese restaurant shitcanned) is something I wouldn’t wish on anyone. While I may have been 97% convinced this whole thing was a stupid, stupid prank, that 3% was depressing and frightening in equal doses.
Gary Esposito and “Steve Edwin”, if this is really you and not someone being a smartass in email (I’ve been informed that this address is not the one used when you communicate with Tom Spurgeon,) I feel sorry for you. I feel sorry that you think this sort of thing is funny, and I feel sorry that there are people in your life that most likely don’t know the kind of person you are, yet.
However, I don’t feel sorry that I’ve taken the time to inform Grey Global that Gary Esposito has used their resources to harass me repeatedly and I don’t feel sorry that someone may lose their job because you’re a pair of shitheads.
Finally: grow up the fuck up. I hope the fact that this particular phrase is coming from a guy who obsessively writes about comic books and cries every time he watches Spock or Pa Kent die shows how fucking low you’ve stooped.
Addendum:
Read this post to see how it all turned out.
Comics News Post: June 27, 2007
No Comments | Posted: June 27th, 2007 | Filed under: UncategorizedNancy Grace is pregnant with twins. Intrigued by the idea that someone could force themselves to have sex with the shrill, hatchet-faced former DA and host of CNN’s Let’s Make People Commit Suicide By Yelling At Them On National Television, the Comics News Post staff launched an investigation. The results were eye-opening, if not exactly unsurprising.
Image has announced that the second issue of Frank Frazetta’s Death Dealer has sold out.
I’d just like to point out that Wrigley’s doesn’t put out a press release because my local store is stocked up on Juicy Fruit and the warehouse may have to order more from the factory.
IDW is going to reprint the classic Little Orphan Annie, adding yet another title to their line of classic newspaper strip reprints. Other installments in the series include Chester Gould’s Dick Tracy, the forthcoming Terry and the Pirates, and the recently announced Snuffy Smith & Barney Google: The Depression Years.
Sam Raimi is being coy about lensing a fourth Spider-Man movie, something he’s repeatedly said he’s not interested in doing.
In a recent interview with MTV, the director discussed the possibility of working the classic Marvel villain team The Sinister Six into the franchise while a studio representative discussed the possibility of working a truck full of money to Raimi’s back door.
Relentless Self Promotion: The Rack has Staff Picks!
No Comments | Posted: June 27th, 2007 | Filed under: UncategorizedI don’t know about how it is where you guys are, but it’s what my daddy woulda called balls hot1 up here in Boston. If it were this hot and I lived in Southern California, I’d do my best to get into the cool, air-conditioned pop-culture paradise that is Yavin IV Comics and take a moment or two to check out the staff recommendations before hitting the wall.
1No, he wouldn’t have said that at all.
Gary Esposito.
No Comments | Posted: June 26th, 2007 | Filed under: UncategorizedI have discovered who Steve Ebbling is. (For your reference: Link One and Link Two. Also, a basic Google search shows his comments elsewhere.)
For those just tuning in and in need of a recap, “Steve Ebbling” has repeatedly harassed me from an IP belonging to Grey Global Group as well as another based in Brooklyn. “Steve Ebbling” has consistently made crude comments concerning my sexuality, which are both incorrect and trending towards hate speech. Steve Ebbling also repeatedly insulted my size and appearance, but I can’t quite work up any vitriol for that as I am a large, doughy, pale fellow.
After some investigation, I’ve come to the conclusion that Gary Esposito of Brooklyn, New York, a frequent contributor to The Comics Reporter has left comments on both The Rack and this site using the name “Steve Ebbling.”
It all starts with this nasty comment thread dating back from 2005. Gary’s comments came in from a New York City IP address associated with Grey Advertising (208.196.60.32), feature the same formatting (including a love of “Peace” at the bottom), and contain the same vitriol against me.
Someone named Gary Esposito works (or has worked for) for Grey Global Group and as noted in the previous posts, Steve Ebbling’s comments have consistently come from an IP belonging to Grey Global, who are the parent company for Grey Advertising.
Gary Esposito was at MoCCA (Link 1 | Link 2 | Link 3), Steve said he’d “see me” at MoCCA in a comment left on The Rack.
I contacted Tom Spurgeon after making these connections and Gary Esposito has denied a connection to “Steve Ebbling” and his comments. Tom has given Gary Esposito the benefit of the doubt, but I feel no need to do the same.
It should be noted that I bear no ill-will to Tom or The Comics Reporter. I do not think there’s a better site out there for smart, well-written comics coverage and am troubled by the fact that Gary Esposito doesn’t value The Comics Reporter enough to admit he’s been caught red-handed and disassociate himself from the organization.
If you’d like, please link to this post with the keywords Gary Esposito. This will ensure that Gary Esposito and Google both learn that insulting and harassing somebody who works in web marketing and search engine optimization is not a good idea.
Addendum:
As of the morning of June 27, 2007, this blog is already at the bottom of page 1 when you use Google to search for the term Gary Esposito. That’s fast, and I want to thank everyone that’s made a link so far.
Frank Kim also pointed this out in comments:
Gary Esposito worked at Penthouse Comix, and expressed negative opinions about its management. “Steve Ebbling” left a disparaging remark on a news item about a new comic book publishing company co-founded by David Elliott, the former publisher of Penthouse Comix.
To find out how this all ended, click here.
Comics News Post: June 26, 2007
No Comments | Posted: June 26th, 2007 | Filed under: UncategorizedAttendees of Top Shelf’s tenth anniversary party, held this past weekend during MoCCAFest, were forced to carry the celebration onto the street after the air conditioner at the bar blew out. Reports from those who were present indicate the mood was still jovial and people had a great time despite the setback.
In related news, Jeffrey Brown’s new graphic novel is expected by the end of the year.
Kobe, Japan is getting a life-sized Gigantor memorial. Based on the most popular creation of Mitsuteru Yokoyama, who was born in Kobe, the nearly-60-feet-tall statue will serve to mark his birthplace and help celebrate the revitalization of Kobe after the 1995 earthquale that leveled the city.
Rumors that the statue will also serve as a defense system against Kyoto’s rumored Mazinger Z sculpture have been neither confirmed or denied.
Last week, Sony and MySpace announced the Minisode network, an online classic TV channel that features condensed versions of such classics as like Who’s The Boss?, Charlie’s Angels and What’s Happening!!. Sony insists that the original plots and humor are still intact, despite the reduction in running times.
DC has announced a similar plan for their some of the imprint’s longer-running, yet finite series. Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon’s Preacher will be repackaged into a single trade paperback entitled Preacher: Bodily Mutilations, Talking To God, and Vampires. The Brian Azzarrello crime saga 100 Bullets, which is drawn by Eduardo Risso, will see two bookshelf releases: Cussin’ and Naked Chicks when the series wraps up in late 2007.
Warren Ellis’s Transmetropolitan will be replaced with a copy of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.
A Newsarama interview with Robert Kirkman about the cancellation of The Irredeemable Ant-Man has garnered over 100 comments showing support for the title.
DC Sent Me Two Comics And I Should Say Something About Them.
No Comments | Posted: June 26th, 2007 | Filed under: Uncategorized
The Flash: Fastest Man Alive #13 is a comic book that features someone in red who usually runs very fast but is depowered and then killed. Since he’s not Barry Allen or Wally West, I’ve got nothing really invested in Bart Allen, the former Impulse, and this single issue does very, very little to make me care before slamming down on the Comics Character Reset Button. I’m sure there are people who love the character, though, and are holding vigils even as I type this.
Anyway, Tony Daniel is not an artist whose work I like, but he’s perfectly adequate for this. Marc Guggenheim’s script has a couple of really nice moments, but the suspension-of-disbelief meter was twitching a bit when a powerless Flash manages to stave off psychopathic criminals with super-awesome laser guns for ten minutes to save the world. What’s the point of your Freeze, Heat, or Lightning Rays if they can’t individually dispatch some schmuck? Oh, wait, it’s to make Allen look more heroic and the now-returned Wally West now has something to emo out over.
There’s some big brouhaha over how this was a “surprise” final issue and there’s going to be a return to the previous status quo. As it’s superhero comics, that’s par for the course and I can’t imagine anyone being particularly shocked or impressed. The Flash: Fastest Man Alive #13 is workmanlike, if distinctly non-thrilling superhero action.
The Highwaymen #1 is a competent, high-concept comic that reads like something that BOOM! or Markosia or the like would put out. This first issue is mostly setup for the series premise: a pair of professional couriers are (one still in the espionage game, the other retired) are reunited for one last gun-packed mission after fifteen years apart.
This is a very readable comic. Mark Bernardin and Adam Freeman’s script is nailed down tightly and opens up questions while clearly delineating what’s going on. Dialogue flows nicely (even if I think the character of McQueen tries a bit too hard to be British in that oh-yes-let’s-use-arse-again way) and the action sequences are handled deftly, moving along quickly while still giving readers the destruction porn that makes this sort of thing enjoyable.
I think this is the first time I’ve seen artist Lee Garbett’s work and I’m going to out and out praise it. He’s got a Dillon-esque knack for facial expressions and he’s got a strong sense of movement that makes those aforementioned action sequences zip along nicely.
Is there enough in this issue to justify $3 on its own? Yes, actually. If the rest of the series progresses this nicely, Wildstorm’s going to have another nice mainstream book to offer up to readers and/or Hollywood.
General Boosterism: Andrew Lin’s Comics
No Comments | Posted: June 25th, 2007 | Filed under: Uncategorized
During pre-drink drinks on Saturday, RJ White of The City Desk showed me some of Lin’s comics and I soon found myself declaring (to a mostly disinterested bar, excluding our table) that by God, I would purchase them on Sunday. And, unlike my Saturday night declaration that I would soon see all of mankind burn in a lake of eternal hellfire as I sat upon a throne, enjoying a tasty root beer float, that’s exactly what I did.
See more of Andrew’s work at Supermasterpiece.com
Comics News Post: June 25, 2007 (The Brief Edition, or: I Was At MoCCA All Weekend)
No Comments | Posted: June 25th, 2007 | Filed under: UncategorizedJeff Johncox, writing for the Cleburne Times-Review discusses comics’ relationship with TV and film and states:
[...]There’s a graphic interpretation of almost every television show out there right now[...]
That’s right, gang: almost every television show out there right now. When it comes to crime series, I know I’m particularly fond of Ivan Brunetti’s take on Monk as well as Law And Order: SVU by Bryan Lee O’Malley. The number of high-quality sitcomics (do you see what I did there) is also worthy of praise. Evan Dorkin’s Yes, Dear is a delight and I’m glad to see that despite the series finale, Jeffrey Brown’s The King of Queens will continue until it hits issue #100. (On a vindictive note, I’m glad to see that the Chuck Dixon JAG comic went down in flames.)
In media news, Wizard Magazine has reached out to indie comics readers with a column featuring a title, “I Can Has Comix?”, that will self-destruct in six months.
I Can Has Comix?
After MoCCAFest, I’m sort of crazy in love with comics for at least the next twelve-to-eighteen hours. By tomorrow, I’m sure somebody will have done something worthy of mockery.
Relentless Self Promotion: The Rack
No Comments | Posted: June 25th, 2007 | Filed under: UncategorizedOh my stars and garters, Birdie’s doing this new thing with inks on The Rack and a comic strip I’ve always been very happy with on art leaped up and became something transcendental. Go read it and find out why.
(Also: it’s a Star Wars-related comic strip, featuring our against-the-grain, out-and-out admiration for scenes in Episode III. Is it a perfect movie? In no way, shape, form, or fashion, but we’ll argue for some of the highlights as if we’d made the damned thing ourselves.)
