November 2011 Archives
FROM HANDSWORTH and beyond appears to be the goal of cartoonist Hunt Emerson and his ever-creative extra-curricular activities outside the comic book field - albeit that his illustrations tend to adorn and promote those very items.
On Thursday December 15th Mr Emerson will be helping celebrating the festive season with song and good cheer as Spritely Records of Handsworth hold a Christmas party at The Endwood in Handsworth, Birmingham.
As has been noted at Speech Balloons previously, Spritely have released a number of records featuring Hunt's vocal and guitar skills, and now with a new year imminent it's pleasing to hear of a local company looking to expand as the record company are seeking an intern.
"We are looking for an enthusiastic and dedicated social networker to stand alongside us as we try and bust out of Handsworth and spread the Spritely feeling far and wide." I'm told.
"We need someone who is patched into the new media grid and who can actively exploit all avenues of communication in a connected world - Help us to identify new audiences, new artists and new ways of getting the word out so we can put Handsworth back on the musical map.
"Our ideal is someone who digs the music we make, lives locally and loves the area, understands the latest trends in the internet and online networking and is bursting with leftfield ideas. A background in marketing and promotions would be an advantage. A sense of humour is appropriate... Age, race, gender and sexual proclivity are irrelevant, obviously.
"This is an exciting opportunity to get involved in a fresh project and gain valuable experience in music and the arts. We can offer you the chance to work alongside some genuinely nice, generous and talented people. You will get a strong grounding in recording, mixing and marketing of music and merchandising.
"You will learn about design and printing. All this knowledge passed down by our own white-coated professors of that sort of stuff. You will also meet interesting people and have fun. You can even sing on the choruses..."
It sounds fun, a great experience, and perhaps a little too good to be true. Possibly, but not entirely.
"As you may have read between the lines, this is an unwaged position," the record company admits, "But there is a great opportunity for the right candidate to dig themselves a proper job when we take Spritely to the next level in 2012, armed with a sassy business plan."
Plans for next year include gigs, more musical releases, a search for local talent, some interesting oral history sessions and, apparently, plenty of chutney - But I'm not going to ask either Hunt or the record company about that one!
If the internship appeals to you, call Spritely Records on 07706 960172 or email the company at spritelyrecords@gmail.com with your contact details and an outline on why you're kee.
As with all jobs, paid or unpaid, you are advised to look at Spritely records' website at www.spritelyrecords.com to see what they have done in the past year.
"We've made a great start; we want you to help us on the next steps to creating a vibrant, socially active, community-based, fun enterprise. We're looking forward to hearing from you."
Me, I'm personally rather pleasently surprised by what I've heard so far and hope I can make it to the party on the 15th December!
TOP SHELF Productions is now offering its award-winning library of graphic novels for sale in digital form.
These digital comic books come in the form of two dedicated applications, or apps as those in the know like to term them - one for general readers and one for kids.
As the publisher of critically acclaimed books such as From Hell, breaks new ground as the first American independent/alternative publisher to offer such a substantial catalogue of digital graphic novels.
At the same time, Top Shelf graphic novels are also now available through Comixology, Graphicly, Comics+ by iVerse, Apple iBooks, and Google Books. More titles will continue to roll out on every platform, including the Nook and Kindle Fire devices, as well as a Diamond Digital program that partners up with comic shops.
For more information and to purchase digital editions direct visit: www.topshelfcomix.com
THIS MONTH'S comics-related film news courtesy of G.M. Jordan...
JOHN CARTER... OF MARS
In March 2012 Disney are set to return audiences to the red planet as Wall-E director Andrew Stanton takes his first steps into (almost) live action films with an adaptation of Edgar Rice Burrough's classic story A Princess of Mars.
But despite a stellar cast (including Willem Defoe) Disney have opted to drop the Mars reference, as if 12 feet plus warriors and desert landscapes were not a hint that you are not in Kansas anymore Dorothy!
So just why has Disney chosen to take Mars out of the title? Probably the same reason that if there is another Green Lantern movie it will be based on Earth. The movie going public is very fickle when it comes to space movies, none of the Mars movies have really made an impact at the Box Office or as one film producer said "Sex sells, Mars doesn't".
Funny how when little grey, purple or green men land on Earth it's okay (ET, War of the Worlds, Mac & Me) but we can't go to their planets; one can only assume they are lousy hosts and don't serve those little sausages & cheese on sticks with their aperitifs.
John Carter is released on March 9th next year.
CAPTAIN AMERICA 2
The top bods at Marvel's film division have let slip that Captain America 2 will be set in the present day. DOH! Thanks for the that guys, we hardly thought that at the end of the first film where Cap followed the comic book history arc and was frozen in ice wasn't a dead giveaway, or the fact he is one of the central characters in The Avengers movie out next year. We didn't think they were going to thaw out American poster boy Steve Rogers and have him take part in Korea, Vietnam or any of the other conflicts the US Army has been involved in and then push him back in the freezer.
Next they will be letting slip that the good Captain will be wearing a red, white and blue costume and will be played by Chris Evans again (no, not the ginger whiner from Radio 2).
THE MUPPETS
It's time to play the music; it's time to light the lights... Yup, we finally have a release date on the next Muppetsmovie and it will be February. Join Kermit and the gang as they race to save the Muppet theatre from demolition at the hands of an evil oil baron.
TOTAL RECALL (2012)
If you were going to make a remake of Total Recall who would you get to play the part played by Austrian oak tree and champion mumbler Arnie Schwarzenegger? Who would have thought director Len Wiseman would have gone for notorious womaniser and bad tempered Irish midget Colin Farrell.
Fans of the original will also be glad to know that the movie isn't set on Mars (once again movie audiences obviously can't handle any more spacey adventures). Although the plotline will follow the convoluted premise of memory implants and hammy actors being able to turn in a half decent performance. Me thinks the special effects will be the leading player in this remake.
AKIRA
No don't throw things at the screen. Apparently the live action version of the anime classic is scheduled for a 2013 release and according to IMDb online it is rumoured to be starring Kirsten Stewart (Twilight), Gary Oldman (Batman, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy) and Helena Bonham Carter.
It will be in English, no word yet on the director but it will be in two parts and they promise lots of glittery people for Twilight fans (just kidding)
WOLVERINE
Hugh Jackman has confirmed that he unleashes his inner animal again to play Marvel's Wolverine. They start shooting in 2012, no word on the plot but Jackman did reveal in recent interviews that he hoped it would follow the comic book continuity and take The X-Men's popular bad boy to Japan. If that is the case and it matches the comic storyline it will make for a fantastic movie that even the American audiences can appreciate.
IN THE CINEMAS NOW:
Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn - go see it, it looks fabulous and it has a fantastic British cast.
Immortals - Don't bother; it is a sand and sandals epic without the epic. It does star Henry Cavill who is the new Superman... Oh maybe I won't look forward to the new Superman movie after all and hope to be pleasantly surprised, or not.
Arthur Christmas - Aardman Animation's latest effort so expect fun for all the family and lots of slapstick humour. Don't expect the stopmotion technique used in Wallace and Gromit because it is computer animation and that is less time consuming and more American friendly.
Until next time, keep your popcorn warm and your soft drinks cold!
AGAIN WE ask how future times record our history... Find out the Carter's Column way! Click on the episode below for it to expand to fill your screen with the latest episode.
Carter's Column head over to the Search button and check out the previous online serials where you'll find previous featured artists have included John Royle (Wolverine: Evilution, Spider-Man) and Gary Crutchley (2000AD, Death Race).
What's more it's not just the previous serials you'll find but features about the series along with exclusive character sketches and special interviews with the various creators and news about their other current projects.
Carter's Column will be updated in full digital colour soon.
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
SNOW TIME to hang around... Click on the Farmageddon strips below for them to fill your screen!
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 Niel Bushnell visit: www.nielbushnell.com and www.qurios.com
For more on Gordon Fraser visit: www.freewebs.com/gordonfraser/
THE MALTA Comic Con 2011 takes place this weekend of Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th November, to be held at St. James Cavalier, Valletta. Doors open from 10am till 6pm on both days.
Now an annual convention that is becoming increasingly popular each year, it was established in 2009 by Wicked Comics.
Below is a Youtube video featuring exerts from previous Malta Comic-cons.
Wicked Comics is itself a voluntary organisation that is aimed at promoting not only the comic culture in Malta but abroad too.
Since 2005 Wicked Comics have given local comic artists and enthusiasts alike the opportunity to learn more about the subject matter and continued to provide suitable platforms for the local artists to hone and showcase their skills.
Following in this vein, the Malta Comic Con comprises all things falling under the comic culture banner and is both entertaining and educational, as those who have attended can vouch.
On both days there are events specifically intended for children while there are others targeted for a mature audience. There is also a cinema where free movies and animations will be showing continuously. The hall is filled with art work and collectibles exhibitions, while the guests take part in a number of discussion panels and workshops throughout both days.
Other activities include the opportunity for gamers to play for fun on a variety of leading consoles or enter specific tournaments held throughout both days, while a number of exhibition and introductory table-top and creative role playing games are also held.
Fans are also encouraged to create their own costumes of their favourite heroes and come dressed in these costumes. And, for those who so desire, there is a cosplay competition held on both days.
Plus there are a number of commercial stands that are intended to compliment the various events at the show.
The professional creators for this year come from England, Scotland, Italy, France, Cyprus and the USA. They will be taking the opportunity to chat with their fans, sign and sell their books and original pieces of artworks, and sketch as time allows.
This year's Malta Comic Con will see the international debut of Birmingham publisher Time Bomb Comics' Dick Turpin and the Crimson Plague with writer Steve Tanner himself appearing, as well as fellow UK creators Tim Perkins' Worlds End graphic novel series launching its first volume Riders on the Storm, and Emma Vieceli launching Vampire Academy.
Other international guests include Michael Golden (Micronauts), David Lloyd (V for Vendetta), Lucio Parillo (Hulk), Marco Santucci (Captain America), Jon Haward (Macbeth), Gary Erskine (Dan Dare), plus Sonia Leong Kate Brown, Renee Witterstaetter, Leonardo Meschini, Sean Azzopardi, Christopher Malipitan and Thomas Gosselin.
Joining the professional creators will be some popular local creators, some of whom have already published their own work, including books with titles such as The Golden Lizard, The Tsar, Hal Mudlam, Arcana Crusade and For Gallantry.
This year will also see more locally produced comics launched, including issue 2 of Hal Mudlam, Pilot (a steampunk anthology), Apocalypse Rocked and the latest instalments of the running series Kranium and il-Gawgaw u l-Imlejka.
Above is a strip by British creators John Gatehouse and Dave Windett, former guests at the show.
It's been said that the Malta Comic Con is an event that's best experienced over the both days... For those attending this weekend, have a great time!
Images and photos used in this feature were supplied either by Chris Le Galle or from the convention's Facebook site.
For more information about the Malta Comic Con visit: www.maltacomic-con.com
TIM PERKINS has produced the first in a series of what he has termed "science fusion" graphic novels, and it is to be published by Wizards Keep.
Perkins art as appeared in the pages of comics such Transformers and 2000AD and Dr Who, was courted by Defiant and flown to America to colour their comics line, and produced a mountain of kids comic strips in between.
Volume 1 in his fully-painted all-age Worlds End series is titled Riders on the Storm. It is produced in the European Format with a case bound cover, containing 88 full comic pages, plus end pages.
Below is a promotional video for Worlds End:
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Set on the world of Gaeryth, a mathemagician called Gweldar, his familiar, Geek; a young boy called Ralf and a mysterious girl known as Zephol are all that stand before an invading alien horde intent on aqua-forming the otherwise tranquil planet in the far reaches of space.
In Riders on the Storm this gathering begin their attempt to stop the myriad forces, known as the Aoevill from the depths of outer space and solve the mystery of Worlds End.
The book features a foreword by Bryan Talbot, an introduction by John Ridgway, and an afterward by Tim Perkins himself.
Each pre-order will receive an exclusive, signed and numbered, limited edition print,that will never be made available after the general release of the book.
For more information on Worlds End: Riders on the Storm visit: www.wizards-keep.com
MEN OF Mystery, the premiere Golden Age superhero reprint anthology published by AC Comics focuses exclusively on the World War II heroes of Fawcett Comics for its 86th issue.
Men of Mystery #86 includes two full issue reprints featuring a pair of rare, sought-after gems from the early heydays of Fawcett's costumed champions of justice.
The first is the very rare Minute Man #1, from the spring of 1941; currently valued at over $3000.00, a spin-off from Master Comics, the Minute Man stories from this book were released before the US entered World War II. The four untitled stories were all drawn by Charles Sultan with the help of the Chesler Shop artists. The other complete reprint is Spy Smasher #5. Currently valued in the area of $1000.00 in its original format, it features four stories all drawn by Emil Gershwin
This volume of Men of Mystery #86 also contains a Dan Barry Commando Yank story from a 1942 issue of Wow Comics, a Mr. Scarlet story from Wow #7 where the Crimson Crusader takes on The Black Sphinx (art by Jack Binder) and the Spy Smasher back-up feature Thrilling Spy Tales, plus house ads & text features.
In all, Men of Mystery #86 is 160 pages of vintage 1940s comic book action. All stories are reprinted in full, utilising state-of-the-art digital technology to maintain the integrity of the art.
For more information on AC Comics visit: www.accomics.com
And, for a glimpse at an assortment of AC Comics gone by, check out the Youtube video below, as an awful lot are featured in it:
JIM ALEXANDER'S Gabriel is now on sale published by Black Hearted Press.
The writer has worked in comics for over a decade and has seen his work showcased within DC, Marvel, 2OOO AD, Dark Horse, Tokyo Pop and Metal Hurlant. His versatility is apparent having contributed to such disparate titles as Star Trek, Justice League, Ren & Stimpy, Sonic the Hedgehog, Metal Hurlant, Looney Tunes and Cartoon Network.
In Gabriel #1, Alexander has written stories illustrated by David Hill (2000AD) and Andy Dodd (Timebomb Comics and colourist for the Birmingham Mail Speech Balloon's very own Carter's Column).
In Gabriel Part 1 (by Jim Alexander & David Hill) a demon runs rampage through the city of Glasgow. It is a different Scotland with a non-secular police force; a society where god and the devil is reality. Events centre round Stewart Gabriel, who has personal demons of his own.
While in a story entitled Manchester (by Jim Alexander & Andy Dodd) it is the end of the world. For one man the last day on earth is quite possibly the happiest day of his life.
Gabriel is suggested for mature readers, and comes courtesy of Scottish publisher Black Hearted Press. The Glasgow-based company was founded by David Braysher, John Farman and Sha Nazir in 2010 and seeks to promote new, exciting and diverse creator owned, collaborative comic books.
Black Hearted Press can supply printed copies of Gabriel signed and personalised by the writer on request. Digital copies are available for £1 on request.
Jim Alexander has also contributed to two other Black Hearted Press titles, Laptop Guy and Black Hearted Love.
For more information visit: www.blackheartedpress.co.uk
BIRMINGHAM BASED cartoonist Hunt Emerson whose work has appeared in such diverse publications as The Beano through to The Radio Times ploughes on through the imminent winter snow by adding to his extra-curricular musical output by putting out a Christmas single.
A Spritley Chrismas features Emerson and the Spritley All-Stars performing their own unique version of The Goons' I'm Walking Backwards to Christmas among others, and is available via: www.spritleyrecords.com
The cartoonist usually has a fun set of Christmas cards for sale at this time of the year so that's another good reason for checking out his personal website over at: www.largecow.com
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