August 2011 Archives

Another selection from the weekend's top Birmingham based comic related event

Can't add much to Paul's comprehensive account of BC2011 below, but we did have a photographer on hand and an excellent set of photographs.

There is a gallery selected by our picture editor here.

But for Speech Balloons readers we have even more snaps from the fun packed day.

Enjoy

International Comic Expo London takes place on Sunday September 18th.

Among the guests present will be Roger Langridge, John Higgins, Paul Cornell, plus a very rare appearance from Brett Ewins.

For more information visit: www.fantasyevents.org/ealing/index.html

Check out the Birmingham Mail's coverage of 2011BC here. and in today's printed edition.

BIRMINGHAM'S 2011 B.C. comic convention appears to have been a resounding success according to many of those in attendance.

Chris Sprouse was a hero though, signing and sketching away almost as soon as his feet touched the ground. I had the great pleasure of hosting the Strongmen of America and Tunbridge Wells event, where I chatted to him and writer Peter Hogan about the recent collection of their Tom Strong and The Robots of Doom series into a graphic novel, among many other othings... A big thanks to David at Nostalgia & Comics for helping out with the research material!

Later, I was sitting up on stage interviewing Doug Braithwaite in a career retrospective of pretty consistent highs - Like the guys before him, I found Doug a polite, well-mannered interesting gent, so much so I only had time to offer the audience the chance to ask him about three questions themselves.

Elsewhere during the day I traded insults with friends from Stoke, discussed music and the aging process with Hunt Emerson, on popping into Nostalgia & Comics met up with Si Spencer (from writing for Eastenders and Hellblazer the man had to lower his great stature and put up with having his photo taken with old me), I also got to sign copies of Spirit of Hope that I had a story in during the day.

Undoubtedly the thing that filled me with the greatest personal please was the applause that greeted the world exclusive promotional video for Hardware, the anthology I've been working on for far longer than I care to think about it... But it's coming, and, as the tagline goes: "You've been warned!"

2011 B.C. carried on as party into the early hours, but for once I had to beat a hasty retreat, with family health issues to consider, but I left with a tired, happy smile; and as those who know me best will tell you, I very rarely smile!

THIS MONTH'S comics-related film news courtesy of G.M. Jordan...

Hi Ho, Silver Away!

Bad news for Johnny Depp fans, the long awaited Lone Ranger movie has been put on ice by Disney who have asked director Gore Verbinski (Pirates of the Caribbean) to shave millions off the budget.

The report in Hollywood Reporter states that whilst Verbinski was prepared to drop werewolves and other supernatural creatures he was having problems dropping some of the huge set pieces, one of which involved a train. Depp has long held an interest in playing Tonto, when some in the media asked why a Native American actor couldn't play the masked man's sidekick it had to be pointed out to them that Depp is half Native American.

However the budget isn't the only thing worrying Disney, the poor box office returns for Cowboys and Aliens (Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford) has made them wonder if the world is ready for a return to westerns.

If Verbinski walks from the project Depp is likely to stay with it, but whether another directors can pull off a big screen adaptation remains to be seen.

Sony Green Lights Smurf's 2

The Smurfs are likely to get another movie, Sony apparently earmarked money for another film before the first one had even been released.

Now that the first movie is in the cinemas and doing well, Sony has asked the writing team to start work on the second and want it released in 2013.

Marvel Goes Ensemble, DC Goes Solo.

If you are a comic book fan and you are looking forward to The Mighty Avengers movie for next year, that will bring together Thor, Iron Man, Hulk (Incredible not Hogan), Captain American etc; don't hope that Warner Brothers will follow suit with its vast array of DC Characters.

After Chris Nolan finishes his trio of Batman movies it would appear another reboot is on the cards with another director taking over; Zach Snyder (Watchmen, Sucker Punch) is directing the new Superman movie and with no sign of a Wonder Woman script it looks like Warner Brothers will be unable to bring their stable of characters together in a Justice League movie.

John Carter Sets Out For Mars

Edgar Rice Burrow's American civil war hero, John Carter, will be blasting off to Mars in 2012 but Disney who are distributing the movie have dropped Mars from the title - once again the studio have itchy feet about cross genre promotion thanks to Cowboys and Aliens.

Just what the all-important American movie audiences make of the movie remains to be seem, it's a very big weight on the shoulders for first time live action film director Andrew Stanton, his previous output includes animated blockbusters Finding Nemo and Wall-E.

"I am the law!" - Dredd Rides Back Into Action

Judge Dredd fans can breathe a sigh of relief as Kiwi Karl Urban brings the Mega City One lawman to the big screen for the character's second outing.

Famously Sly Stallone removed the helmet for his take on Dredd; Urban meanwhile stated that if he had been asked to remove the helmet for his shot at bringing 2000AD's anti-hero to life, he would have turned the role down.

Dredd co-creator John Wagner is very happy with the script and how the movie has turned out, not that movie people really care what comic book creators think; after all they only gave life to their creations and made them popular.

Hollywood Runs Dry of Creativity!

It had to happen one day; Hollywood appears to have run out fresh ideas (which would explain their plundering of comic book franchises). Expect in the near future remakes of the likes of Footloose, Straw Dogs, Fright Night, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and Piranha. Not content with endless remakes we have to content with endless sequels - who really wants to see Final Destination 5? (Just for the record, George, we really don't want to be subjected to Star Wars: Phantom Menace in 3D, 2D was bad enough).

But Hollywood, if you really need a creative shot in the arm then you can reach me through this column, I'm cheap and I can guarantee I will come up with better ideas than some of your current writers - well, at least, my ideas will be original!

For those of you with great taste The Comic Book Alliance's Spirit of Hope charity anthology is now available at all good comic book stores and book shops. Profits from the book go to help the victims of the Japanese and New Zealand earthquakes. The book is always available from the CBA website (www.comicbookalliance.co.uk) and through Amazon.

Until next time, keep your popcorn dry and never accept a hot dog from a stranger in the dark!

CLICK ON the Carter's Column strips below to see episodes from the Brand of the Dragon storyline in black and white, with lettering.

Lettering not only detail the verbal narrative of a comic story, it is the only visible evidence of the writer's work.

More importantly, a good letterer will subtly guide the reader through the story; positioning their speech balloons and boxes in such a way that they enhance and illuminate the story while at the same attempt not drawing attention to themselves, in what I refer to a word choreography.

Most lettering is done digitially, but the best ones still tend to be those who developed their craft via the old cut & paste method. People like Carter's Column's John Robbins.

Hurricanes hardly ever happen down at Farmageddon, but then common sense rarely prevails either - Click on the strips below to put a little sunshine in your heart!

Below is a preview video for the Farmageddon animation series that is in development:

For more on Farmageddon visit: www.farmadeggon.tv

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

TONIGHT, FRIDAY 26th August is the launch party for 2011 B.C taking place tomorrow at the Holiday Inn, Birmingham City Centre.

The exclusive launch party is taking place at the Wu Wu cocktail bar (part of the Oceana nightclub complex), situated just a minute away from the Holiday Inn convention hotel.

The first hour featured a special signing session by assorted guests who will be at the show tomorrow.

Those who have not purchased tickets in advance for Saturday's show can buy them on the door

I had the honour of catching up with writer, magazine publisher and Hollywood producer Mark Millar ahead of his appearance at 2011BC in Birmingham this weekend.

A version of the interview is appearing in tomorrow's Birmingham Mail in the Bank Holiday What's On special.

But for Speech Balloons here is a more comprehensive take on the conversation.