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Archive for ‘May, 2009’
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Comics 2 Games – Free Comic Book Day 2009 Commercial from Chas! Pangburn on Vimeo.
Hi, Folks!
Saturday, on Free Comic Book Day, Benita and I made an appearance at Comics 2 Games in Florence, Kentucky. We had an outstanding time! We got to catch up with old friends Bob Hickey (Comics 2 Games, Blueline Pro, Sketch Magazine, etc.), Chuck Moore (Comic Related), Bill Nichols (Sketch Magazine), and John Wilson (Comic Related, Sketch Magazine). These fine folk share a boundless enthusiasm for comics, and I’ve come to think of them as true friends.
In terms of fellow creators, we got to meet Lora Innes (the Dreamer), Eric Adams (Lackluster World), and we got to catch up with old friends Brant Fowler and Scott Simmons of Wannabez.
The turnout was outstanding, and we had a steady influx of comic enthusiasts of all ages throughout the day. Sometimes, the excited chatter got loud enough that I had to raise my voice just to be heard above the din! This is just my first visit to the area, but if this is any indication then Florence must have an amazing comic community!
The store itself, Comics 2 Games, just recently opened, and it is the coolest comic store I’ve ever seen. Airy and bright, this was the antithesis of the grungy hole in the wall comic shops that are so common. There are dedicated sections of the store for statues, art supplies, video games, art books, and a large “gallery” where we were set up among the other comic creators. This did not feel like a Free Comic Book Day so much as a day at a comic convention!
Thanks, Bob Hickey, for inviting us!
Scott
At this point in Elect’s development, I was aiming for a Jack Kirby-like design, and a suit that was so over-developed that Elect could barely move. Such was his power, he didn’t NEED to move! I proposed at this time that his power was so tremendous that he had to wear the suit as a containment unit. Eventually, a bit of that idea survived into the concept that Elect always wears goggles because his eyes are so bright that no one can look at him without them.
Heroes Inc.
As you can imagine, Heroes Inc., by Scott Austin, is right down my alley. Gritty, tough-as-nails, no-nonsense superheroes is what I do, after all, and Heroes Inc. fits that description as well.
For a long time, Johnny Saturn was just about the only serious superhero comic on the web. Others had come and gone, and many webcomics with a superhero flavor came onto the scene, but that was the exception, not the rule. There were strips with super heroic elements, such as Side Chicks, Magellan, Mind Mistress, the Vanguard, and a few others, but each of these were mined from different parts of the genre. Then, Union of Heroes showed up, followed by Heroes Inc., and suddenly Johnny Saturn didn’t feel so alone.
In terms of writing, Heroes Inc. has the feel of a modern spy thriller, or perhaps a military thriller. The writing is tight, the characterization is compact, and the pace seems to be building to something big. The concept that immediately appealed to me is that of old superheroes being used as genetic donors for a new era of supers.
When it comes to art, there is no doubt that Scott Austin is a very talented illustrator, and that his vision is unique. The penciling is rock solid, and his figure work is beautiful. His inking is non-traditional, made up of thin, choppy lines and splashes of black, giving the art a grim, urban feel. Scott’s coloring is quite distinct, using a very desaturated palette, lots of grays, and blotchy, texture-full rendering. It’s not realism he’s interested in here, but the stylized reality of indeterminates and unknowns. If I had to boil down Scott’s artwork to one adjective, I would call it ‘edgy.’
Heroes Inc. characters are loosely derived from the Nedor characters, Golden Age superheroes that have fallen into the public domain. I first encountered versions of these characters in Alan Moore’s Terra Obscura series, but that was not to be the last. In the intervening years, we’ve seen them adapted by AC Comics, Dynamite Entertainment, Image, and others. Heroes Inc. is perhaps the most original adaptation of these characters yet.
In terms of narrative, Scott Austin is quite skilled, and his action is often paired with parallel captions. He makes good use of this technique, and he makes it make sense.
In summation, I wholeheartedly endorse Heroes Inc.
Scott.
Alan Evans of Rival Angels had some marvelous words to say about us:
Since joining the Webcomic collective, I’ve been looking forward to plugging a comic that I’ve been reading for a while now, Johnny Saturn.
First things first: I grew up on superheroes, love, love, LOVED me some Spiderman and Batman. When I got to fifth grade, I started collecting comics and never looked back. Fast forward to the new century with everything that is wrong with comics. Such as, gimmicks, crappy stories that include deals with devils and other out of character nuances with smug, money hungry EIC’s laughing their asses to the bank with just enough pandering to keep me away from superheroes for a good long while.
Enter Johnny Saturn. Here’s a webcomic/comic book that is something that can help fill the big void left by the greed of the Big two. It’s not a comic for children, and I like that. I like a webcomic that is written with my tastes. It reads alot like Austin Grossman’s exceptional book, ‘Soon I will Be Invincible.’ Just like Austin Grossman’s book, there is a wonderful nod to the old school heroes and the way that they conducted themselves but leaving out the camp and frivolity.
The writing and stories of Johnny Saturn are smart and well-written. The stories are so character driven that you get caught up in the characters lives, whether they’re ‘good guys’ or ‘bad guys.’ The distinction isn’t always clear, who’s good or bad and that’s something that will entertainingly keep you on your toes. The pacing keeps things from bogging down or accelerating at a breakneck speed. You won’t help nodding approvingly when you get taken for a ride on one of the story twists.
The art is fantastic. Every update always has top notch art, always solid. Always good angles, anatomy, perspective and the coloring fits the mood. Scott doesn’t seem to take a day off or skimp on the details. Trust me, the art, especially the covers are amazing.
Come for the story, stay for the art. You’ll be happy you checked it out.
Last Thursday, Benita and I had the opportunity to see the live, musical production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Suddenly, I was five years old again, transported by the amazing adventures of this magical car and the Potts family. But, I’m getting ahead of myself.
When I was a little kid, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang the movie was my first cinematic love. Sure, I loved the Wizard of Oz, and the Jungle Book, but nothing could compare with my love for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Like countless other kids, I had a matchbox replica of the car, and I was able to act out new adventures for the incredible motorcar. I had the record album, and I played it into grooved ruin. It’s no surprise, really, but the music in this movie was so outstanding that anyone of any age could find something uplifting about it.
The stage production is a marvel. This is a big budget, Broadway level show all the way. There are some differences between the movie and the musical, but that’s to be expected—they are, after all, different mediums. The two Vulgarian spies, for example, were major players in the musical, and they were outrageously entertaining in a Vaudeville-style way. In the movie, these were tertiary characters at best.
The sets and props in the musical are incredible! The stage is often animated, with props rolling on and off stage as needed. The machines that Caractacus Potts built are prime steam-punk, and quite beautiful to look at. But, most of all, the car Chitty Chitty Bang Bang flew! I couldn’t see the machinery, but undoubtedly the car was lifted and moved around via hydraulics. The car was often precariously tilted, and I would guestimate as much as twenty feet in the air at times.
Make no mistake, Johnny Saturn is representative of how I perceive the world. The world, as I see it, is a chaotic, uncertain, troubled, sad place. People are corruptible, yet they are also redeemable. Duty and hope are our saving graces, yet these are in short supply. Yet, I am so happy to hold onto this shining memory of a movie I’ve loved since childhood and watched innumerable times.
I’m glad they didn’t update Chitty Chitty Bang Bang for the times. I’m glad that it’s still a memory of sweetness and innocence that I can hold on to. I’m glad I got to sit in the audience and sing along to the great songs.
Scott.
As Elects appearance in the pages of Johnny Saturn grew nearer, I tossed out my earlier concept drawings of him. As the first meta-human, and born in 1900, I opted for him to have a more antiquated look, a bit of the Great White Hunter, with the theater cloak and all.
Hi, Folks!
Johnny Saturn no. 7 is off to the printers! After a long delay, it is ready to be published. I take full for the delay, because I had to go back and color eleven pages of it.
Last week, by the power of Netflix, I watched “Journey to the Center of the Earth” with Brendan Fraser. Cute movie, but aimed at a 13-year-old audience. Also, this movie will take pretty much anything you know about physics and tosses it out.
Earlier this week, I watched the latest James Bond movie, a “Quantum of Solace.” I though it was excellent, and I really like this new, grittier, more realistic take on Bond. No funky spy gadgets, little to no cheesiness, and actual acting mark the last two movies. Daniel Craig pulls off the role with macho, hardcore skill. Judi Dench, a brillaint actor, carries on as M, a solid co-star in the film.
Last night, I watched The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor. I sort of expected this series to stagger to an end, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that the movie was quite good. I loved the first one, and the second one had some moments that redeemed it for me. Rachel Weisz chose not to return, but Maria Bello did a fine job replacing her.
