February 2011 Archives

XIII Book 5: Full Red

Cinebook

A race against time to prevent the United States of America being taken over is the order of the day in this latest collection of the hit series XIII - We've have one president shot (and some would have us presume by our titular hero), now it looks like another's going to meet his maker.

XIII, Lt Jones and Sgt Barnowsky (both females, and both having used their womanly ways on our hero) fly in on a banana plane, land on a highway, apprehend a state police car, meet up with a few likeminded souls, then walk on into the lion's den that is Operation Full Red.

It all sounds like a hectic frenzy but the visual pacing by Vance refuses to be rushed; enacting draughtsman precision to time consummately with Van Hamme's plot resolutions. This is old school comics, and the lessons are taught well.

This book could have marked the conclusion of the series but it in fact simply draws to a close the first story arc, though whether or not we'll ever truly find XIII's identity remains to be seen.

For more on XIII visit: www.cinebook.com

CARTER'S COLUMN took off and headed east, got lost in the Himalayas and was found again, now the crew's back on course and coming into land. But it won't be a smooth ride because today marks the debut of our thrilling new epic... The Brand of the Dragon!

Click on Episode 1 above and it will expand to fill your screen in glorious digital colour:

For more information on the creators:

For Paul H Birch: www.myspace.com/paulhbirch

For Jon Edwards: www.facebook.com/MightyJonE

For Mats Engesten: www.go.to/engesten

For John Robbins: www.mylifeinshorts.blogspot.com

For Andrew Dodd: www.andydoddartoons.co.uk

Don't miss next Sunday's exciting installment - Subscribe free today by clicking on the RSS feed.

CLICK BELOW on this Saturday's Farmageddon strip below for it to fill your screen:

FARMAGEDDON CO-CREATOR COMES TO BRUM!

Farmageddon co-creator Niel Bushnell will be appearing at The Studio in Birmingham on Tuesday 1st March.

Sponsored by the West Midlands Animation Forum and BSeen (an entrepreneurship programme for Birmingham-based final year students and graduates), Niel will be presenting a talk on Doing it the Hard Way: Setting up an Animation Studio Outside the Capital, based on his experiences as managing director of the award-winning Newcastle-based animation and VFX studio Qurios Ltd.

More information can be found at: http://doing-it-the-hard-way.eventbrite.com/

As a further prequel to Niel Bushnell's presentation in Birmingham, click on the Qurios Ltd Youtube video below:

Farmageddon is here every Saturday... Click on the RSS feed to make sure you don't miss out!

For more on Farmageddon visit: www.farmadeggon.tv

For more on Niel Bushnell visit: www.nielbushnell.com and www.qurios.com

For more on Gordon Fraser visit: www.freewebs.com/gordonfraser/

COMICS LAUNCHPAD 2011 is a one day conference aimed at comics professionals, aspiring creators and anyone with a serious interest in the business of making comics to be held on June 18th at The Studio in Birmingham's city centre.

Put together by International Comic Shows, the organisation behind the British International Comics Show (BICS), a full programme of talks, seminars, demonstrations and workshops are promised. Leading artists, writers, editors, publishers, colourists, letterers and designers from all corners of the industry will be on hand to share their wealth of experience and appraise people's work.

Confirmed guest speakers currently include: Klaus Janson, Andi Watson, Mark Farmer and Emma Viceli, with many more to be confirmed.

Access to the event will be via advanced online ticket sales only, limited to just 300 delegates, demand will be high, so early booking is recommended.

Tickets will be available from the 28th February 2011 and mailed out in advance as part of the delegate welcome pack that will contain a full schedule of events, travel and accommodation details, party tickets and a personalised delegate name badge. All delegates will have full access to all events (subject to availability), and receive an invitation to the exclusive after event party, hosted at The Studio's spectacular roof garden, where food and drink will be provided.

Never has there been a more exciting and challenging time for the medium; one of Launch Pad's chief objectives is to address these changes which affect not just how we create comics, but also how we deliver them to the readers. The ever growing and diverse self-publishing movement is a vital part of this revolution, all aspects of both the traditional and digital methods of creating and distributing your own comics will be covered in depth.

For more information on Comics Launch Pad 2011 contact: info@comicslaunchpad.com

INDIA'S FIRST ever comic book convention concluded with many a happy face a couple of days ago.

10,000 adults and children are estimated to have attended the aptly named Indian Comic Con show where there were publishers comics for sale, and creators signing, talking about their work and offering demonstrations.

One of the highlights of the show is said to have been Campfire's new mythology series of graphic novel, with three books based on Indian legends already scheduled for publication from spring to summer.

The books in question are Ravana: Roar of the Demon King, Draupadi: Fire-born Princess and Krishna: Defender of Dharma.

For more about The Indian Comic Con visit: www.comicconindia.com

For more about Campfire Comics visit: www.campfire.co.in

CARTER'S COLUMN reports the arrival on board of a new lead pencil artist in the form of Jon Edwards for the forthcoming Brand of the Dragon epic.

Paul H Birch: The predictable opening question here; what comics were you into as a kid and what artists have influenced you?

Jon Edwards: I read the usual children's comics, such as The Dandy and The Beano; then became the proverbial Marvel Junkie - read loads of them, including picking up the old reprints of Marvel's stuff from the early 1960s onwards.

To me, Marvel Comics, circa 1965 - 72, was their golden age - classic Fantastic Four and Spider-Man - great stories and art created by seasoned professionals.

I count Jack Kirby and John Buscema amongst my biggest influences from that period, but there were also so many other greats then and later - Neal Adams, George Perez, Marc Silvestri, Jim Lee; the list goes on.

Later, I got into DC and read collected reprints of Alan Moore's and Frank Miller's stuff, amongst others, and then became a big Image fan. I also picked up collected editions of some of the great early Judge Dredd sagas of the 1980s.

Then I got more interested in independent stuff, such as the works of Charles Burns, Dan Clowes, the Hernandez Bros, The Luna Bros, and many more; but in recent times, Manga and, especially European comic books, have been a major influence, notably Moebius, Milo Manara, Masamune Shirow and Katsuhiro Otomo.

My favourite recent books have been The Walking Dead, and mangas Monster and Deathnote. But I've read so many comic books from Windsor McCay to Bryan Hitch, and of such varying subject matter, that my influences and interests within the medium are extremely broad.

PHB: You've previously had a career in music. What is it about comics you find appealing creatively or, potentially, financially?

JE: Money has nothing to do with it. To be able to get regular work to earn a living at something you enjoy is all I ask for. I started writing and drawing my own comics from the age of ten. Before that, I wrote fantasy/sci-fi stories for myself; then shortly after, I used drawing strips as a way of illustrating my stories.

It was always my intention to be a comic book illustrator, after art college but I got side-tracked into music, mainly as a studio engineer and some in-house composing for radio commercials for local radio in the Midlands. But I never felt quite at ease as an engineer, or even as a musician - I always saw myself more as a songwriter, trying to create something inventive in the studio.

PHB: Your publishing exposure is limited thus far, but where has your work appeared?

JE: Recently, in Polish anthology New British Comics #2 (yes, it's Polish yet showcases UK creators!), now-defunct trade newspaper Comics International, and a few years back, in BICS co-organiser Shane Chebsey's now-defunct CAOF (Comic Artists Of The Future) anthology, plus some other small-press anthologies here and there.

PHB: You've also a strip written by Jim Alexander due for the forthcoming Hardware series that I'm aware of. But what is it that you hoping to achieve coming on board as a pencil artist for the Carter's Column series?

JE: I'm simply hoping to get the work done! Ha ha! (note: this is humour!). Seriously, I would hope to create a new visual benchmark for the series and essentially just attract people's attention. I pour my heart and soul into every creative endeavour I do. To me, it's about the craft, of trying to get things right, and to do my very best. I'm giving the strip 500%!

PHB: Do you have any future plans, goals you would like to discuss?

JE: Like I said, my immediate goals are simply to get regular professional work. Beyond that, there are a few of my own ideas it would be nice to perhaps self-publish one day, but it's not my priority at this very moment.

PHB: Thanks for both your time and your talent, Jon!

For more information on Jon Edwards visit: http://facebook.com/MightyJonE

CLICK ON this Saturday's Farmageddon strip below for it to fill your screen.

Below is a promotional video for the Farmageddon animation series that is in development for television.

Farmageddon is here every Saturday... Click on the RSS feed to make sure you don't miss out!

For more on Farmageddon visit: www.farmadeggon.tv

For more on Niel Bushnell visit: www.nielbushnell.com and www.qurios.com

For more on Gordon Fraser visit: www.freewebs.com/gordonfraser/

STAND OFF AT THE SUTTON FARM is the latest one-shot courtesy of Unico Comics.

Written by Michael Burness with art by David Byrne the story is derived from a new event from the past.

"This comic follows the harrowing tale of three generations of family who live on a farm who one night come face to face with visitors from another world. The only questioning now is are the Aliens friendly or foe?" said Burness.

The tale itself begins calmly enough like some long lost Ealing comedy but soon fast tracks towards becoming a paranoid nightmare.

For more information on Stand off at the Sutton Farm visit: www.unicocomics.webnode.com

WHEN INSOMNIA Publications filed for bankruptcy one of the comics to fall victim, and seemingly face limbo, was Fallen Heroes, a graphic novel based on Barry Nugent's supernatural thriller.

"It was a blow for everyone, not just us, but all the creators and staff involved with Insomnia. I don't mind admitting that I thought that was it for the project," said Nugent.

However the creative team decided that rather than quit that they would continue on with the adaptation, in serialised comic book form. Together they set about raising the money to produce Fallen Heroes by selling advertising space in the first issue and taking donations.

It was a gesture that did not go unnoticed by the creative team, as its creator noted: "It's great to be part of an industry where people see folks in trouble and will do anything to help rather than see a project fail,"

Fallen Heroes is a dark urban fantasy that is a throwback to the pulp adventure stories of old but deals with the themes of betrayal, redemption, hope and sacrifice in a modern and contemporary setting.

Below is a Youtube video featuring Fallen Heroes:

A limited edition first issue, including exclusive art by DC, Marvel and 2000AD artists will be available at the Cardiff International Comic Expo on 26th February. Barry Nugent and Fallen Heroes' artist Steve Penfold will also be taking part in a live panel at the event to discuss the comic's development.

For more information and to pre-order Fallen Heroes #1 go to: www.fallenheroescomic.com

MONSTERVERSE'S BELA Lugosi's Tales from the Grave anthology comic has been nominated for the Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards.

The Rondo Harr, now in their ninth year, are fandom's only classic horror award. They are decided by fans, for fans. Every Rondo nominee is being recognized for a significant achievement in the genre during the year of 2010.

Speaking from the USA, Editor Sam F. Park said: "It is a great honor to be nominated for what has been a tremendous year... We've had sell-out business at comic shops nationwide along with glowing reviews at the top pop culture sites... We appreciate your support and for encouraging everyone to vote."

Additionally, Monsterverse Publisher/Editor/Artist Kerry Gammill's Famous Monsters cover Cover #253 (Island of Lost Souls) was nominated for a Rondo.

To vote go to: monsterkidclassichorrorforum.yuku.com/topic/29282/S--OFFICIAL-BALLOT---NINTH-ANNUAL-RONDO-HATTON-CLASSIC-HORR, copy the ballot
and send an email with your choices to David Colton at taraco@aol.com by midnight, March 27th 2011. The winners will be announced the following Monday night.