February 2012 Archives

MEMORABILIA was the show that started it all. Since it began similar events, conventions and shows proliferating with pop culture artifacts, from sci-fi to horror, cult TV, games, comics and all points in between have been occuring up and down the UK with increasing frequency.

Memorabilia itself has changed owners a couple of times, and is now in the hands of the MCM Group. The Midlands MCM Expo just took place in Telford, and here's the line-up for other events by this particular organiser throughout the nation for the rest of the year:

MEMORABILIA BIRMINGHAM,THE NEC: 31st March - 1st April.

MCM EXPO BIRMINGHAM COMIC CON, THE NEC: 31 March - 1 April.

MCM EXPO LONDON COMIC CON, EXCEL: 25th - 27th May.

MCM EXPO MANCHESTER COMIC CON, MANCHESTER CENTRAL: 21st July.

MCM EXPO LONDON COMIC CON, EXCEL: 26th - 28th October.

MEMORABILIA LONDON, EXCEL: 27th - 28th October.

MEMORABILIA BIRMINGHAM, THE NEC: 24th -25th November.

RIDING IN with the latest comics-to-film related news here's the lowdown from G.M. Jordan...

Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance

Nic Cage wanted to be Superman, he even owned a copy of the man of steel's very first comic outing, but that didn't happen. Why he decided to take the gig as Ghost Rider was no great surprise but when it bombed at the box office you would have thought he would have learned his lesson, instead he is back in the second outing for Marvel's ghostly motorbike rider.

The all-star cast includes Cage, Christopher Lambert, Ciaran Hinds and Idris Elba, which is fairly impressive if it were not for Cage who hasn't really made a critical impact on the big screen since Leaving Las Vegas in 1995. The real problem with Spirit of Vengeance is that the two directors (Brian Taylor and Mark Neveldine) are the duo responsible for the dire Crank movies and the script writer, Scott M. Gimple, is used to writing for 50 minute television programmes which doesn't bode well for a film that is nearly 2hrs long.

This time round the Ghost Rider can be seen hiding out in Eastern Europe only to be tracked down by a church who recruit Johnny Blaze (the human form of Ghost Rider) to go into battle against the devil and save a little boy's life.

The Muppets

In case you missed last month's column, The Muppets are back in a movie with an original story, unlike the brilliant Muppets Christmas Carol or the passable Muppets Treasure Island that saw the gang shoehorned into classic characters.

The cast come together when the Muppet Theatre is threatened with closure, with old and new members joining forces to put on a show and bring the magic back to life. Along the way they run into the Large Hadron Collider and Jack Black, only one of which is impressive.

Go see this movie, take your kids; borrow some kids from a friend, neighbour or orphanage because this is a film that demands it be shared with all ages.

Chronicle

If you like movies that appear to be shot on either a phone camera or handheld video camera, with a slightly amateurish feel to them then you might like this one. I passed on the movie Cloverfield because it tried the same thing and I ended up feeling sick because of the jerky camera angles that everyone thought was so clever.

In Chronicle three American school kids get super powers and end up abusing them. The same premise has been seen on Channel 4's Misfits. There is not really anything original in the movie but the relationship between the cast is good and you get a sense of teen angst as they run into problems that challenge how they feel about each other.

Watch out for...

Wrath of the Titans

If you like sword, sorcery and sandal epics then this follow up to 2010's terrible Clash of the Titans remake might just what you have been missing, the producers promise a much better movie and Sam Worthington has apologised to fans who were less than impressed with the first film.

The Hunger Games

The bestselling book is looking like it could repeat its commercial success when it hits the big screen. Jennifer Lawrence is Katniss who volunteers to take her sister's place in a fight to the death with other children live on television. I suppose it beats being stuck in watching X-Factor on a Saturday night.

Thor 2

The Thor sequel is back on track with director Alan Taylor now on board.

Fantastic Four

Rumour has it The Fantastic Four may be getting a reboot in the near future, joining Spider-Man and Superman in getting new cast and crews.

Until next time, have fun.

LOVE MIGHT not be in the air during today's brand new full colour Sunday episode of our sci-fi adventure romp Carter's Column appearing exclusively at the Birmingham Mail's Speech Balloons.If you're new to Carter's Column head over to the Search button and check out the previous online serials where you'll find 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.

For more information on the creators:

For Paul H Birch: www.myspace.com/paulhbirch & www.paulhbirch.co.uk

For Jon Edwards: www.facebook.com/MightyJonE

For Mats Engesten: www.go.to/engesten

For John Robbins: www.mylifeinshorts.blogspot.com

For Gavin Ross: www.gavinross-artist.blogspot.com

RETURN NEXT SUNDAY FOR A BRAND NEW FULL COLOUR SUNDAY EDITION OF CARTER'S COLUMN!

YOU CAN choose your friends, but not your relatives even down at Farmageddon! Click on the 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 Gordon Fraser visit: www.freewebs.com/gordonfraser/

Don't miss out on a single episode of Farmageddon - Click on the RSS Feed to subscribe for free!

BEANO CARTOONIST Hunt Emerson puts on his blue suede shows this Saturday 25th February to rock out with his band, The Hound Dogs, at The Station pub on Kings Heath High Street, in Birmingham.

A concert in aid of Somalian Drough Relief, tickets cost £5, with other bands featured including Slow Train, Conrad Schwarz, and Spritely Sounds with Billy Milk.

The event begins at 7.30pm, with The Hound Dogs scheduled to go on at 10.30pm.

WALES WAVES its flag once more this weekend for the second Cardiff International Comic & Animation Expo, taking place on 25 - 26th February.

Special guests include Mike Ploog (co-creator of Ghost-Rider, and pictured to the left), John Higgins, Mike McMahon, John M Burns, Mike Collins and David Roach.

This looks set to be a show where fans will not just be able to see and buy great art, but get a master class in sequential art and delve into the history of comics too.

There will also be in depth discussions about The Jack Kirby Museum, dedicated to the late American co-creator of Captain America, The X-Men and many others, plus events to entertain and astound animation fans... And the odd Dalek in attendance we gather!
For more information visit: www.fantasyevents.org/cicae/index.html

RASCALLY ROY Thomas has taken up the position of Series Consultant for PS Artbooks, the specialist comic book line of multiple award-winning publishing British company PS Books.

Thomas, a native of the USA, was inducted into the Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame in 2011, having previously been the recipient of the Alley Award (1969) and three Shazam Award (1971, 1973 and 1974) for his work at Marvel Comics, where he would go on to replace Stan Lee as editor-in-chief.

However, it was over at Charlton Comics that Thomas first sold comic scripts in the early sixties, and then very briefly worked over at National (before they became DC) before he became Stan's main main.

Although his Marvel Comics writing debut was the story Whom Can I Turn To? in the Millie the Model spin-off Modeling with Millie way back in1965, Roy Thomas soon established himself fully with stints on The X Men, The Avengers, Dr. Strange, The Fantastic Four, Sub-Mariner and Daredevil.

It was perhaps the groundbreaking idea of introducing Robert E. Howard's Conan The Barbarian to four-color fandom that will forever cement Thomas firmly in the minds of comic readers (and moviegoers!) the world over.

Before that, back in 1964 Thomas co-edited and produced the much-loved and highly respected fanzine Alter Ego, the Bible of the American comic book field for new and old readers alike and would return to edit it as a bonafide magazine in recent years (picking up an Eisner Award for the magazine in 2007), having worked for DC Comics for a lengthier period after his time at Marvel, and subsequently writing for the movies (including Conan, of course), and others.

"I was delighted to discover PS Artbooks' ambitious reprint programme; making available again some of the finest and most influential comic books of the pre-Comics Code years and after, " said Thomas "And, following an extensive and excitable exchange of letters with Peter Crowther, PS head honcho, I was thrilled when he asked if I would serve as Series Consultant on the entire line.

"Peter and his business partner in the venture, Paul Stephenson, have great plans for many titles in the months and years ahead and I'll be working closely with them to facilitate various peripheral opportunities and developments along the way. Already I'm suggesting titles they may consider and they're being very receptive. As they say, watch this space!"

PS Artbooks has already produced the first volumes of the old Harvey horror magazines Chamber Of Chills, Witches Tales and Tomb Of Terror and the influential ACG titles Adventures Into The Unknown (the very first horror story anthology comic) and Forbidden Worlds. Next up is Volume One of Harvey's Black Cat Mystery, the second volumes of the two ACG titles and some further titles to be announced.

A lifelong fan of comics, PS founder Peter Crowther is openly critical of the current fashion of "slabbing", sealing comic magazines behind plastic and then selling them on at multiples of guide value.

"I'm sick and tired of having to pay ridiculous amounts of money just so I can read stories that appeared before I was born," he says. "All of Dickens's work is readily available at easily affordable prices, as are Homer's Odyssey and Iliad and, frankly, the great comic books of bygone years are of equal importance. Will Eisner's Spirit tales (thankfully reprinted by DC Comics), the various Archie family of magazines (from Dark Horse and IDW) and DC's Chronicles, Showcase and Archives series plus Marvel Masterworks are all showing the way forward for the industry . . . But, with the possible exception of Craig Yoe's work for his Yoe! Books, the more obscure and esoteric titles are getting overlooked time after time. I've read and enjoyed Roy's work in the field for many years and, with his help, we're aiming to redress the balance. And then some!"

NEW COMIC artists and writers are looking forward to winning a new comics talent completion at the MCM London Comic Con this March.

Judged by Eisner award-winning Fables artist Mark Buckingham, Dr Who comic book writer Tony Lee and Steve White, senior editor at Titan Publishing, those entering the Huntsman's Challenge Competition - as it has been called - had to complete a five page full colour dark fantasy story.

"In just a few years we've seen our small Artists Alley turn into a full scale Comic Village, with hundreds of comic creators now attending and exhibiting," said MCM marketing director Bryan Cooney. "Many of today's best UK creators started with a table at our shows, growing as we have. We'd like to give that opportunity to the next generation of creative teams."

The judges will select two winners: one for best design and art, the other for best writing quality. Both creative teams will be nominated for a new Eagle Award, the MCM Expo Award For New Visionaries and have their story included in May's MCM London Comic Con show programme, printed in conjunction with Snow White and The Huntsman from Universal Pictures, who will also provide a selection of prizes.

Both winners will also receive invites to the 2012 Eagle Awards ceremony and after-party on the Friday of the MCM London Comic Con, along with industry passes to the full London Comic Con weekend and signing slots in the show's Comic Village.

"Winning an Eagle on your first time out is a story worth telling in its own right," Cooney commented. "Having tens of thousands of people read your story and having it in print alongside a movie like Snow White and The Huntsman is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

For more information visit: www.londoncomiccon.net and www.eagleawards.co.uk

CARRY ON nurses in today's brand new full colour Sunday episode of our sci-fi adventure romp Carter's Column appearing exclusively at the Birmingham Mail's Speech Balloons.If you're new to Carter's Column head over to the Search button and check out the previous online serials where you'll find 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.

For more information on the creators:

For Paul H Birch: www.myspace.com/paulhbirch & www.paulhbirch.co.uk

For Jon Edwards: www.facebook.com/MightyJonE

For Mats Engesten: www.go.to/engesten

For John Robbins: www.mylifeinshorts.blogspot.com

For Gavin Ross: www.gavinross-artist.blogspot.com

RETURN NEXT SUNDAY FOR A BRAND NEW FULL COLOUR SUNDAY EDITION OF CARTER'S COLUMN!

GUESS WHO'S coming to stay at Farmageddon? Click on the strips below for them to fill your screen and find out who!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/

Don't miss out on a single episode of Farmageddon - Click on the RSS Feed to subscribe for free!