---------------------------------------------------------------------- Ed Dukeshire and Mike Imboden Present: THE COMIC BOOK NET ELECTRONIC MAGAZINE ISSUE NUMBER 354 2/01/2002 Edited by: David LeBlanc - ComicBkNet@aol.com Nominated as FAVORITE COMIC EMAG in the 2001 EAGLE AWARDS! FREE VIA EMAIL SINCE FEBRUARY 1995 ______________________________________________________________________ C O N T E N T S ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [A] Submissions, mailing address, web page [1] On the Net ............................ David LeBlanc [2] Letters to the Editor ................. Your Page! [3] TRIVIA CONTEST ........................ Win *real* prizes! [4] Network Buzz .......................... News, gossip & rumors [5] Interviews: David Gallaher, Farel Dalrymple, Michael Vance ...... Paul Dale Roberts [6] A View From the Cheap Seats ........... Rich Watson [7] Sound And Fury ........................ Craig Lemon [8] M.O.E. Reviews ........................ Paul Dale Roberts [9] My View: CrossGen January Issues ...... David LeBlanc [10] New Comic Book Releases List .......... Charles LePage [11] HYPE! Section ......................... Various ______________________________________________________________________ World Wide Web Home Page-->> http://members.aol.com/ComicBkNet Mailed by Yahoo!: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ComicBookNetworkEmag AOL text copies in Sci-Fi Library II - Keyword aol://4400:3990 HTML WEB EDITION at -->> http://www.digitalwebbing.com/cbem featuring a week's worth of the online strips: Steve Conley's ASTOUNDING SPACE THRILLS AND DR. CYBORG by Alan Gross & Mike Oeming ----------------------------------------------------------------------- o \o/ _ o _| \ / |_ o_ \o/ o /|\ | /\ _\o \o | o/ O/_ /\ | /|\ / \ / \ |\ /) | ( \ /o\ / ) | (\ / | / \ / \ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- The ComicBook Network was founded by Ed Dukeshire and Mike Imboden ----------------------------------------------------------------------- If you wish to receive each issue automatically through your Email account, FREE, please send a message FROM that account TO: ComicBookNetworkEmag-subscribe@yahoogroups.com To UNSUBSCRIBE send a message FROM the account to be dropped to: ComicBookNetworkEmag-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com See section [A] for the address to mail material to be reviewed. ______________________________________________________________________ All text contained within is copyrighted to the originating author(s). Except where elsewhere noted, The Comic Book Net Electronic Magazine is Copyright 2002 by The ComicBook Network. You may freely distribute or retransmit this file intact without alteration for noncommercial purposes only. Except for personal archiving, permission must be obtained from the individual authors to reproduce, retransmit, or publish any part of this magazine. Opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Editor, the Network Administration Team or the members and users of The ComicBook Network. ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [A] E-Mag Info: Submissions, Back Issues, Web Page SUBMISSIONS ----------- To submit an article, review, column, etc. to our Emag, simply Email it to the editor at: ComicBkNet@aol.com You must include your REAL name and a valid Email address in order to be published in this Emag. Sorry, we do not accept anonymous columns. Reviews of mainstream books are welcome and we encourage reviews of indies and self published material as we feel that material deserves more exposure to the general public. If you write intelligent, coherent, and timely reviews of any comic book it will almost always be printed, so give us a shot. Commentary on the state of the industry, and personal observations and reflections related to comics are *most* likely to be included in our publication. PLEASE, no material on Gaming, role playing, collectible card games or other hobbies or collectibles other than comic books. That also includes plugs for web pages UNLESS they are concerned with print comic books. We do not promote web comics as we do not consider them to be comic books. SEND US YOUR WORK ----------------- We also accept product for review purposes. Advanced copies of comic books will not be returned but any comic books sent to us *will* be reviewed in the ComicBook Net Emag. Send all material to: David L. LeBlanc 84 Heather Circle Jefferson, MA 01522-1419 Material is generally reviewed in the order received and be advised that we work a few weeks in advance so your review may not be in the magazine immediately. Advanced copies are therefore encouraged so the review will occur prior to your product hitting the stores. THE Comic Book Net WEB PAGE http://members.aol.com/ComicBkNet ---------------- If you have access to the World Wide Web, please stop by and visit our web page! On our web page, you can find the latest issue of our E-Mag, as well as all back issues and an annotated index. You'll also find important information and other neat features like links to the HTML version of the current issue of this magazine at DIGITAL WEBBING, [http://www.digitalwebbing.com/cbem], some of the comic companies and creators' web pages and many other Comic Book related links! You can also find some of our back issues at America Online, by going to Keyword: COMICS, then choose the menu item _Comic Book Forum_ and then going to the _Comics Library_ from there. These are non-zipped text files. AOL search/keyword: aol://4400:3990 ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [1] On the Net David LeBlanc ComicBkNet@aol.com News bit #1 The latest Wizard Magazine, #126, has a full page story on our friends who put together DIGITAL WEBBING PRESENTS. Ed and the guys got some really high profile press and you retailers may just have to increase your orders for DWP #2! News bit #2 Remember the Eagle Awards ballot you filled out and sent in by October 31 last year? Are you wondering if you missed the results? Well you haven't. I am told some behind the scenes problems and an enormous number of ballots to count along with routine job considerations, slowed things to a crawl in finalizing the results. My source says it is all cleared up now and we can expect word on all the winners in a couple of weeks. The next balloting, for the best work in 2001 should follow closely after that. News bit #3 These comics hit the stores this week: CARTOON BOOKS Bone #46, 2.95 CROSSGEN COMICS Meridian #20, 2.95 Ruse #4, 2.95 DARK HORSE COMICS Groo Death And Taxes #2 (Of 4), 2.99 DC COMICS Dark Knight Strikes Again #2 (Of 3), 7.95<------Pick of the Week! JLA #62, 2.25 Legion #4, 2.50 Power Company Manhunter, 2.50 Power Company Sapphire, 2.50 DORK STORM PRESS Best Of Dork Tower 2nd Prtg #1, 1.95 FELIX COMICS, INC. Felix The Cats Magic Bag Of Tricks #1, 2.50 MARVEL COMICS Brotherhood #8, 2.25 Ultimates #1, 2.25 MORDAM RECORDS World War 3 Illustrated #32 (Pu#508), 3.50 magazines Comics International #141, 2.25 News bit #4 If you are within driving distance of Central Massachusetts put some variety in your day by venturing to Worcester for a big event that will really make it a Super Sunday! That's Entertainment and Alternative Comics Present 9-11 Emergency Relief A Benefit Comic Book Special Book Signing Sunday Feb. 3rd, 1-3 pm At That's Entertainment 244 Park Ave. (Rt. 9) Worcester, Massachusetts 508-755-4207 Appearing will be these contributing artists: James Kochalka, Tom Hart, Dean Haspiel, Nick Bertozzi, K. Thor Jensen, Ellen Lindner, Josh Neufeld, David Lewis, Gregory Benton, Neil Kleid & more. These terrific cartoonists will be signing/sketching and chatting about the moving stories they have created as a response to the attacks on 9- 11. Books will be available at our store. David LeBlanc - ComicBkNet@aol.com Editor The Comic Book Net Electronic Magazine ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [2] Letters to the Editor If you want to comment on this or any previous issue, want to offer something for us to publish, or just want to shamelessly suck up to the editor to try and get your name in print send Email to: ComicBkNet@aol.com Note: Letters of comment, including those sent to the columnists, may be used in future issues of CBEM unless you specifically request us NOT to use them. Your Email address and/or name will be withheld upon request. +++++ [In case you do not read ON THE NET. . .] Subj:9-11 Cartoonists Appearance at That's Entertainment (Sunday Feb.3rd) From:thatse@thatse.com Hey Everybody! Your invited to visit us here at That's Entertainment on Park Avenue in Worcester NEXT SUNDAY 1-3pm, for a special book signing/sketching appearance by several comic book artists. Each of these cartoonists have contributed to the just released book "9-11 Emergency Relief" published by Alternative Comics. The book benefits the American Red Cross, and features dozens of artists sharing their response to the events of September 11th. Come on by to check out the book! You can get a copy autographed, or have a cartoonist do a sketch, or just chat with them about their story, or comic drawing in general. Books will be available here at the store. The artists will also have other book that they have published available to purchase. www.thatse.com www.indyworld.com/relief 9-11: Emergency Relief is not appropriate for younger children. The book obviously has stories that are political, philosophical, related to death, related to violence, related to racism, etc. There are swear words in the book. I would suggest that it is probably not appropriate for K-6 but probably ok for 7th grade and up. I would call this a PG13 type book. Jeff Mason - Publisher THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT 244 PARK AVENUE WORCESTER MA 01609-1927 508-755-4207 www.thatse.com thatse@thatse.com "New England's Largest Collectibles Store!" Comic Books, Anime, Autographs, RPG's, Toys, and more! Open 7 days a week... Sunday-- Tuesday 10-6; and late Wednesday -- Saturday, 10-8! ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [3] [TRIVIA CONTEST] **THE FIRST PLACE TO FIND THE EMAG EACH WEEK IS ON OUR HOME PAGE!** IF YOU ARE DESPERATE TO WIN THE TRIVIA, GO THERE FIRST ON FRIDAY NIGHT http://members.aol.com/ComicBkNet QUESTION OF THE WEEK Prizes donated by Discount Comic Book Service at www.dcbservice.com where you can order most DC, Marvel, Image, and Dark Horse comics, statues and retail products for 35% off. +Submit your own trivia and win the CHEEZY PRIZE(tm) if you can stump+ +the readers! You MUST submit the correct answer with your question.+ LAST ISSUE'S QUESTION OF THE WEEK: When did the Warren Publishing comic Magazine 1984 change it's name to 1994? I guess they were getting too close to the actual year, so in February of 1980, with the 11th issue they changed the name to 1994. Michael Clark is last week's winner and receives The JSA: Sourcebook from our sponsor. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION: First words of what comic book character? "So it has happened at last! I must be true to my vow." IMPORTANT RULES NOTICE Email your guess to ComicBkNet@aol.com or just REPLY to the message if you read the Emag in your mail. DO NOT quote the entire message! You MUST allow mail from ComicBkNet@aol.com to be notified if you win. The first correct answer to reach the editor wins the CHEEZY PRIZE(tm). The editor will be the sole judge as to which guess arrived first! Messages with more than one guess will be disqualified. Winners will forfeit their prize if the Email notification is not accepted from ComicBkNet@aol.com LIMIT: ONLY ONE PRIZE every 4 weeks PER PERSON! ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [4] Network Buzz News, gossip and rumors from around the industry Last week Newsarama ran an article wherein Alan Moore revealed that Marvel had not lived up to their promise in the printing of the CAPTAIN BRITAIN trade paperback - the indicia did not list him and Alan Davis as the copyright holders of the work. He did not even get a complimentary copy of the book. Mr. Moore washed his hands of EVER working for Marvel again and he disowned the CAPTAIN BRITAIN work. Here, direct from Marvel, is the response. - D.L. AN APOLOGY FROM MARVEL EDITOR IN CHIEF JOE QUESADA Why is it that all the crazy stuff happens when I'm away from home and unable to handle the problem properly? First, let me assure everyone that the mistake on the Captain Britain trade paperback was not an act of callousness, but rather simple human error. It really is disheartening to me when people believe that there is some little evil gremlin at Marvel who is looking to screw people over at every turn. What happened with the Captain Britain copyright notice was a mistake and nothing more, and there's very little I can say except, "I screwed up!" I can go and try to pass blame on other departments or other people, but the truth of the matter is that the buck stops with me and I'm ultimately responsible. This is me not passing the famous Bill Jemas IQ test. That's why I'm the one who has to publicly apologize to Alan Moore and Alan Davis for this incredible oversight. When I visited Alan I made him several promises, all of which were kept but, unfortunately, the copyright notice fell through the cracks. Let me just make it clear that I didn't travel across the Atlantic to screw Alan over or to make promises that I didn't intend to keep -- it's just one of those things that gets chalked up to human error. Our TPB department has been trying its best to get out a significant number of titles in a short period of time. I know that with the construction of this particular book they've taken great care in keeping the two Alans in the mix, but ultimately we failed and dropped the ball. I spoke to Alan on Friday and I told him we would do two things (not contingent on whether he would ever work for Marvel again, but because making it was the right thing to do). First, a public apology from myself, and all of us at Marvel. Second, subsequent printings of Captain Britain would have the correct indicia stripped in. We here at Marvel have been trying very hard to make amends for the errors of our past, but sometimes in the efforts to try to make everyone comfortable with the new environment we stumble slightly. To those people out there who would like to attribute this to malevolent actions on our part, I have to say that simply isn't the case. So once again, to Alan and Alan I would like to offer my sincerest apologies, and the promise to be more diligent in the future. JQ [See Alan Moore's response late in this section under the Newsarama recap. - D.L.] +++++ FREE COMIC BOOK DAY INFO IN FEBRUARY PREVIEWS Free Comic Book Day hits on May 4, but Diamond -- working with retailer Joe Field, the promotion's originator, and dozens of suppliers -- is gearing up for it in February with a massive campaign that will make consumers aware of this unprecedented, industry wide event, and invite more suppliers and retailers to join in the excitement! The promotion enables retailers to order special-edition giveaway comics from the participating publishers at low cost for giveaway to consumers on Saturday, May 4, the day after Sony Pictures' eagerly awaited Spider-Man film will premiere. To participate in the promotion, retailers must order at least 50 copies each of the Free Comic Book Day titles offered by Dark Horse Comics, DC Comics, Image Comics, and Marvel Comics. In exchange, participants will receive a listing on the promotion's website (http://www.freecomicbookday.com) that enables consumers to find them easily, and free point-of-purchase posters for the event. Participating retailers also have the option to receive free copies of Free Comic Book Day titles from other suppliers in proportion to their order for the Premier titles. (Complete details can be found on page 12 of the February Previews Order Form, and in the February issue of Diamond Dialogue.) The February issue of Previews offers a two-page spread displaying the cover art from titles that are being offered in the promotion. Aimed at consumers, the spread encourages regular comics customers to bring a friend to their comics store for the event, thus offering retailers an opportunity to increase their customer base. (Retailers will find a complete listing of available titles on page 12 of the February Previews Order Form, and in the February Dialogue.) While Previews delivers news of the promotion to consumers, the February issue of Diamond Dialogue will give retailers the latest information about what suppliers, titles, and promotional efforts are going into making Free Comic Book Day a memorable event. The article also details how retailers can make this promotion even more special by working with the media, other businesses, and their area libraries. Details about the promotion are available online at http://www. FreeComicBookDay.com. Free Comic Book Day - UPDATE #1 ***** THE COVERS ARE HERE! Dark Horse, DC, Image, and Marvel have revealed the covers and contents of their giveaway books! The information is in the February issue of Previews, but you can see it now, before Previews ships, at www.FreeComicBookDay.com. You'll see covers and descriptions for Dark Horse's Star Wars Episode II book, DC's Justice League Adventures, Image's Tomb Raider, and Marvel's Ultimate Spider-Man! ***** BUT WAIT! THERE'S MORE! So far, more than 20 other publishers are also supplying giveaway comic books to participating retailers on May 4, 2002! Check out www.FreeComicBookDay.com to see who's participating and what they have to offer. We'll give you a tease: * Antarctic Press * OniPress * Abstract Studio * Fantagraphics That's just the beginning! So head on over to the website for the complete update. If you have your own website, be sure to click on 'LINK TO US.' You can help support Free Comic Book Day by linking to the site with one of the logos we've provided. Don't forget: May 4 is the magic day. Mark it on your calendar, tell your friends, and we'll see you in our next update! www.freecomicbookday.com. +++++ Blue Line Pro Contact: Mike Maydak Publicity Director Tel: 859-282-0096 Fax: 859-282-9412 Email: mikem@bluelinepro.com FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 2002 SKETCH MAGAZINE #14 The Storytelling Talent of Neil Gaiman This April, Sketch is proud to present the storytelling magic of Neil Gaiman. From the pages of Vertigo/DC’s Sandman to the creative word play of American Gods, this national best-selling author has woven a world of fantasy and imaginative delight into every project he has worked on. Sketch Magazine welcomes Neil Gaiman in an entertaining and rare comic interview. "Neil has worked on all kinds of projects. He has done comics, novels, children's books, short stories, TV programs and movies. You name it; he has done it and done it like no one else. I'm awe-struck by the level of his creative imagination,” commented Bob Hickey, Sketch Creative Director. "His passion for storytelling continues to surprise us all.” Now with over two years of successful and well-received publication, Sketch is the accomplished and asked-for trade magazine of pros, pupils, and hobbyists. Proud to proceed in serving the comic book creative community, Sketch continues its tradition of high-profile creator cover interviews, and now showcases an improved format, larger graphics, and even more in-depth and precise "how-to's". Sketch is a comic book trade publication, providing educational information on the comic book industry in an informative, entertaining fashion. Sketch covers all aspects of the comic industry, from the creative process to printing and marketing. Sketch is published by Blue Line Pro. BLP is the leading provider of comic book art boards and art supplies, providing the proper tools, knowledge, and professional edge to established and aspiring creators around the world. Along with Sketch, Blue Line Pro is the parent company BLP Comics, publisher of comic titles such as Little White Mouse and the upcoming Blood & Roses. +++++ 9-11: Emergency Relief - Chris Pitzer wins AIGA Design Award On Friday January 25, 2002, Chris Pitzer, graphic designer for the 9- 11: Emergency Relief (ISBN 1-891867-12-1; DCD Star 14976; Alternative Comics) American Red Cross benefit book, was awarded a Certificate of Merit for Excellence in Design at the annual Richmond AIGA G.R.A.D.E. show. G.R.A.D.E stands for Greater Richmond Award for Design Excellence, and is a design competition sponsored by the Richmond Virginia chapter of the American Institute of Graphic Arts. This year's competition had approximately 300 entries. After a day of judging, the three entries were pared down to 51 winners in 12 different categories and were displayed at the Children's Museum of Virginia on Friday night. The judges of the show were Dave Mason of SamataMason, Chicago http://www.samatamason.com / Ann Willoughby of Willoughby Design, Kansas City http://www.willoughbydesign.com / Sam Shelton of Kinetik Co., Washington DC http://www.kinetikcom.com / Dave Plunkert of SPUR, Baltimore http://www.spurdesign.com. For more information about the G.R.A.D.E show you can visit: http://www.aiga.richmond.org Chris Pitzer's first memory of comics was a House of Mystery, which had a monster breaking out of a box in the attic. Pitzer has worked at Eclipse Comics (as their Art Director), and Wildstorm and IDW in the capacity of freelance designer and colorist. Currently, Pitzer likes to publish minis every now and then. In addition to contributing a story to 9-11: Emergency Relief, he also did the graphic design. Chris Pitzer lives in Richmond, Virginia. pitzerboy@aol.com. The American Red Cross name is used with permission of the American Red Cross and does not constitute an endorsement, express or implied, of this book. 100% of the net proceeds from the sale of this book will be donated to the American Red Cross to support its lifesaving relief efforts in communities everyday. For more information on this promotion, please contact Heidi Seiffert at seifferth@usa.redcross.org. About The American Red Cross The American Red Cross is dedicated to saving lives, easing suffering and restoring hope at home and around the world. Currently operating on a budget of $3.0 billion, the Red Cross annually mobilizes relief to the victims of more than 67,000 disasters nationwide and has been the primary supplier of lifesaving blood and blood products in the United States for more than 50 years. In 2000, the Red Cross also trained almost 12 million people in vital lifesaving skills, provided direct health services to nearly 2.6 million people and delivered more than 21 million locally relevant community services. The organization also assisted international disaster and conflict victims in close to 40 locations around the globe, and its emergency communication centers processed 1.2 million calls in support of U.S. military families. "Moving Pictures" Comic Book reading in honor of the Heroes of 9-11 at The Metropolitan Playhouse of New York Alternative Comics and Marvel Comics present cartoonists in a community effort Gainesville, Florida, January 31, 2002: At Moving Pictures, a comic book literary event on Wednesday evening, February 13 at The Metropolitan Playhouse of New York in the East Village of Manhattan, comics creators are opening their hearts and sharing their talents by presenting readings of their comic book work created in response to the September 11 attacks. Alternative Comics and Marvel Comics are teaming up to present an inspiring evening where cartoonists gather to read selections from their books created to honor the fire fighters, police officers, and their families, as well as every New York citizen and fans of comic books everywhere affected by the tragedy. In the past, several independent cartoonists have done similar readings of this kind under the title of Comix Decode, where each creator read a small section of her or his work projected on a screen for the audience and then opened a discussion about that piece in relation to their work. Moving Pictures will take place from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 13, 2002 at The Metropolitan Playhouse of New York in the Cornelia Connelly Center located at 220 East Fourth Street (between Avenues A and B, at the Eastern-most door), New York, NY 10009; Phone: (212) 995-8410 or (212) 995-5302; Web: http://www.metroplayhouse.com -- There is no cost to attend Moving Pictures, but it is suggested that people arrive early for the best seating. The Moving Pictures literary event features work from Alternative Comics' 9-11: Emergency Relief benefit book for the American Red Cross, and work from the Marvel Comics' Heroes and A Moment of Silence charity benefit books. Marvel Comics' tribute book Heroes is now in its third printing and along with their second benefit book, A Moment of Silence, has already raised over $1,000,000 for September 11 related charities. Alternative Comics' 9-11: Emergency Relief (ISBN: 1-891867-12-1) 208- page trade paperback anthology of non-fiction autobiographical stories related to the September 11 tragedy was just recently released, with 100% of the publisher's proceeds going to benefit the American Red Cross. Artwork from these three books can currently be seen on display at the internationally acclaimed Heroes Among Us comic art exhibit presented by the NYC Comic Book Museum. The Heroes Among Us exhibit opened on January 22 and will run through February 7 at the NYC Fire Museum before the NYC Comic Book Museum moves its traveling exhibit to the next venue. Many dozens of cartoonists from Marvel Comics, Alternative Comics, and others throughout the comic book community will be on hand at Moving Pictures. Readings will include Joe Quesada, Stuart Moore, Robin and Elayne Riggs (reading Renee French's piece), Dean Haspiel, Josh Neufeld, Ted Rall, Tom Hart, Michael Kupperman (piece read by Neil Kleid), K Thor Jensen, Tomer Hanuka (piece read by Josh Neufeld), Meredith Yayanos, Neil Kleid, among others. Along with these readings, Moving Pictures will present many of the silent pieces from 9-11: Emergency Relief, Heroes, and A Moment of Silence. These pieces include among others, work from Will Eisner, Alex Ross, Frank Cho, Neil Vokes, and Nick Bertozzi. "We are proud to host this honor to the brave and the innocent who have offered their lives to the love and protection of their fellows," said Alex Roe, Artistic Director for The Metropolitan Playhouse. "The comic book industry, with Marvel Comics' Heroes and A Moment of Silence books, and Alternative Comics' 9-11: Emergency Relief trade paperback anthology," said Alternative Comics Publisher Jeff Mason, "we are pulling together as a community to try to raise money for charity and to give artistic voice to cartoonists across the United States and abroad in reaction to the tragedy." The Metropolitan Playhouse is dedicated to the exploration and enrichment of America's theatrical legacy and the discovery of that tradition's place in world theater. Metropolitan produces early American plays, new plays drawn from American culture and history, and plays from around the world that resonate with the American canon. The Playhouse also offers a variety of classes and programs to teach the art and craft of theater to professionals and students alike. Metropolitan established its home on Manhattan's Lower East Side in 1997, and it has since presented over 30 readings, workshops, classes, and, American plays, including The Easiest Way, The Woman, Salem, and this spring's 1909 jewel, The Faith Healer. The website for 9-11: Emergency Relief is: http://www.indyworld.com/relief The cover to 9-11: Emergency Relief is available on-line as: http://www.indyworld.com/pics/911.cover.jpg For more information about 9-11: Emergency Relief or the signing tour, please contact: Alternative Comics Publisher Jeff Mason at 503 NW 37th Ave., Gainesville, FL 32609-2204. Phone: (352) 373-6336. E-Mail: jmason@indyworld.com +++++ Production Set to Begin on Animated Feature Film Adaptation of Lady Death HOUSTON, Jan. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- ADV FILMS has selected the production team that will be responsible for bringing the long-awaited animated adaptation of Chaos! Comics' popular character Lady Death to life. Co- producers Carl Macek and Andy Orjuela will soon travel to Asia to work with artists at SunMin Image Pictures Co., Ltd. under the supervision of director Young H. Sang, to begin the arduous process of creating the animation for this re-telling of the classic gothic heroine's origin. The original screenplay, written by Macek, revisits the origin of Lady Death. The resulting script is a faithful adaptation of Chaos! Comics founder Brian Pulido's original story. New plot elements have been introduced and key characters have been re-designed by Orjuela to breathe new life into the property. Executive Producer John Ledford hopes to create a new production model with LADY DEATH that redefines the relationship between Asian animation studios and Western creators. To these ends, creative elements such as design and storytelling are the domain of domestic talent while offshore "boutique" animation houses handle animation production services. Where the difference becomes most apparent is in the approach to animation. "This is not an attempt to clone anime production techniques," Ledford said, "but rather a genuine effort to develop a new working relationship that respects the various talents of the entire creative team." Macek, who has been a fixture in the animation industry for over 20 years thanks to his work as President of Streamline Pictures and story editor for Harmony Gold's influential eighties series, ROBOTECH, is putting his considerable experience into the construction of this new animation model. The goal for Macek, who also serves as the director of LADY DEATH, is to define a production environment that draws from the best of both worlds. "Over the last 10 years, Japanese animation techniques have become accepted norms around the world," Macek said, "thanks to the success of various television programs and video games, not to mention the huge number of animated programming available on home video. But what is apparent in any survey of anime is that, in many instances, it has become a case of style over substance. Working to take projects out of cliched design cycles and produce a unique vision based on subject matter and core audience is key to ADV's plans." Orjuela, who also served as co-producer and art director of ADV's first animation co-production, SIN, is a key factor in this process. As co- producer and art director of LADY DEATH, his responsibility is to fashion an original environment populated by unique characters that are both fresh and familiar at the same time. "The fun part is getting to create a new world," Orjuela said, "and then having a staff of artists halfway across the globe put their own spin on it, with the resulting work strengthened and enhanced through genuine intellectual co-production. It's an exciting way to work." Korean based SunMin Image Pictures' previous work includes BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES for Warner Brothers, GARGOYLES, TIMON & PUMBA, 101 DALMATIONS, and HERCULES for Walt Disney, THE MAXX for MTV, and the Grammy award-winning music video "Do The Evolution" for American rock group Pearl Jam. LADY DEATH tells the story of innocence betrayed and then reborn as a powerful elemental force capable of challenging the very roots of evil incarnate. Set in 15th Century Sweden, the film follows Hope, the beautiful daughter of Matthias -- believed to be a skilled mercenary, but who in actuality is Lucifer, the Lord of Lies -- who is accused of being the devil's consort following a hellish incident witnessed by a local priest. Ultimately, the mock inquisition sentences Hope to be burned at the stake. Unable to think clearly, she accepts Lucifer's offer of life in Hell -- presented by the malevolent Pagan -- over a hideously painful death. Lucifer's grand plan to pervert a pure soul meets unanticipated resistance, and Hope soon finds herself transformed into Lady Death. Together with the valiant outcast, Cremator, Lady Death challenges Lucifer's hell-spawned kingdom of darkness. The resulting conflict explores the depths of faith and love as an alternative to the corrupting power of evil. Drawing on elements of horror and heroic fantasy, LADY DEATH boldly presents a unique and compelling world. This embrace of the dark side has been the domain of literary writers such as Anne Rice and Clive Barker for many years. It is a world that is ripe for visualization as animation. But American animators have typically shied away from this dark vision in favor of super-heroes and comic buffoons. This is where anime comes into play. The use of animation to tell inherently dramatic stories has been a hallmark of classic anime productions for nearly thirty years. LADY DEATH will be produced as an all-digital, wide-screen feature- length film. The production will be designed to appear as traditional cel animation, but the work will be completed in a "paperless" environment. The advantage of using this process is that the dark environments of the underworld and the even darker demons that populate it can be visualized with a palate of colors that are virtually impossible to achieve utilizing traditional animation techniques. The goal will be to approach the color palate seen in contemporary comic books and video games. Based on the digital color printing revolution ushered in by software such as Adobe Photoshop(R), the ultimate palate becomes denser and more realistic. Limitations exist in traditional animation due to the number of layers required and the lighting necessary to expose film. By going digital, the depth of color and design are limitless. The actual production of LADY DEATH should take a year to complete. Along the way, ADV plans to continually update fans and industry insiders with glimpses of this unique production in various stages of completion. "It's always interesting to get a peek behind the scenes of any production," Macek said. "It keeps interest high, and it creates a sense that something cool is coming our way." +++++ C.B. CEBULSKI IS IN THE HOUSE! Marvel Builds A Bridge To The East With A Key Addition To The Editorial Team! With the Marvel Mangaverse one-shots selling out across the country, The House has made another move to reach out to Manga and Anime creators with the addition of C.B. Cebulski -- as an Associate Editor -- to it's growing editorial team. C.B., who assisted Associate Editor Brian Smith in orchestrating the Marvel Mangaverse event, joins The House after spending years helping Manga and Anime secure a strong foothold it now enjoys in America. While at Central Park Media, Cebulski was instrumental in bringing titles such as Record of Lodoss War, Slayers, Plastic Little, Geobreeders, Dark Angel, and Nadeisco to U.S. audiences. After forming strong relationships with several of the Japanese creators he worked with, C.B. was one of the first American editors to work directly with Japanese artists to create Manga and Anime product specifically for Western audiences. While at Fanboy Entertainment, Cebulski worked closely with Kia Asamiya to produce Dark Angel: Phoenix Resurrection comic series, the first color Manga to land on American shores in over 10 years. Cebulski then followed this up by producing the first shojo (girls') Manga ever created specifically for Western sensibilities and stylings were successfully combined with super hero themes in the series Sidekicks, by J. Torres and Takeshi Miyazawa, which Cebulski edited. He also worked with such creators as Yoshtoshi Abe of Serial Experiments Lain and Range Murata of Blue Submarine No. 6 on their critically acclaimed art collections. "It's become extremely evident to all of us at Marvel that Manga and Anime are more than just a passing phase," said Marvel Editor In Chief Joe Quesada. "Ask any comic retailer and they'll tell you that the best way to reach younger readers -- and the ever elusive female reader -- and they'll tell you that Manga and Anime are the way to go. It's tough to argue this when you see the ever-growing legions of young girls dressed as Sailor Moon characters at comic conventions." "That said, right after his consulting work with us on our Marvel Mangaverse event, we knew C.B. was destined to work with us as a full time Marvel Editor," explained Quesada. "Not because he has incredible contacts in the world of Manga and Anime, not because he has incredible taste in story and art, and not because he speaks fluent Japanese and will be bringing some of the greatest artists in Japan to work with us. No, you see, it's because almost everyone at Marvel has a nickname that Bill Jemas and I slave to create, and we had a great one for C.B. since day one! So I want everyone to welcome C.B.-san to the team! We look forward to all the wonderful stuff that he'll be generating for all the Marvel fans. With C.B.-san's help, we'll be striving to hit the mark with young readers and girl-friendly books that we'll be launching later this year!" "So C.B.-san it is!" laughed Cebulski. "But seriously, I can't tell you how excited I am to be up in the Hallowed Halls of Mighty Marvel! While I am mainly known as the 'Manga Guy' around the industry, I have been reading Marvel Comics for as long as I can remember." "Recently, in Japan, many Manga creators have been taking more 'American comic style' approaches to their art and storytelling, which they freely admit," Cebulski continued. "They are just as influenced by our comics as we are by their Manga, and I know many of the Japanese artists are already chomping at the bit to take a crack at drawing Marvel's heroes." When asked if he could name any names, Cebulski dropped a few. "Well, I think it goes without saying that Kia Asamiya's name will be turning up on some Marvel comics before too long. In fact, just look for his cover to IRON MAN #55 in May. I have also talked with Takehiko Ito, creator of Outlaw Star, and illustrator Katsuya Terada of Zenbu and BLOOD: The Last Vampire fame, and they have also lined up some upcoming work for Marvel. And the list continues to grow daily!" All of us at Marvel welcome C.B.-san to The House! DEADLINE UPDATE! Hey, True Believer! As we approach its April 3rd debut, I thought you'd appreciate an update on DEADLINE, the 4-issue urban thriller that features the pulp noir pencils of Guy Davis! First, I'm happy to announce that Sr. Editor Tom Brevoort has acquired the services of Dave Stewart to color the series! This is good news for Guy Davis fans, because Dave supplied the stunning colors for Guy's art on The Nevermen. You may also be happy to hear that DEADLINE will -- barring a natural disaster -- meet its deadlines! Issue #1 has been plotted, illustrated, scripted, and is being lettered right now. Likewise, issue #2 has been plotted and penciled, while issue #3 has been plotted and Guy will begin penciling it this week. And I'll be plotting the conclusion this weekend! Greg Horn, as he has done on the ELEKTRA covers, has really knocked himself out to deliver some beautiful images. The cover to issue #2 features The Judge, the new character designed by Marvel Editor In Chief Joe Quesada! Bill Rosemann Marketing Communications Manager Marvel Comics +++++ CROSSGEN UNVEILS NEW PRODUCT: THE COMPENDIA SERIES FORGE And EDGE To Address Price Performance Concerns Of Industry TAMPA, FL., January 30, 2002 - In response to the growing concerns of the comic industry regarding inaccessibility due to the high price of modern single-issue comic books and the need to attract new mainstream readers, CrossGen is launching FORGE and EDGE, the first of its Compendia Series, and the first leg of a multi-legged plan to introduce better price performing products and to grow comic book readership. Based on the proven models of European comics and manga compilations from Japan, FORGE and EDGE are both monthly, 200 plus page, full color, book series in standard trade paperback size that feature the same production values as CrossGen's monthly comics, including a quality paper stock similar to that of the monthly comics, all inside a card stock cover. FORGE and EDGE will sit on a bookshelf making them easy to rack, easy to store, and durable alternatives for those looking for a new way to read comics. FORGE and EDGE will carry an initial price of $9.95. After the first few issues, page count will increase to near 300 pages and this increase will necessitate a moderate price increase of no more than two dollars per issue -- still an incredible value. Since FORGE and EDGE are primarily designed to bring new readers into comic books, the content of both FORGE and EDGE is planned to lag at least 90-120 days behind CrossGen's monthly comics and planned to not contain stories not already seen in the monthly comics. For the first year, each issue of FORGE and EDGE will contain at least eight stories covering five series, increasing to six series by the end of 2002. FORGE and EDGE offer readers something comparable to eight comic books, a $23.60 value, for one low price. FORGE #1 will be on sale April 10 and EDGE #1 will be on sale April 24. FORGE and EDGE will then continue to ship the second and fourth or fifth weeks of every month. FORGE #1 will contain: Crux #1-#3, Meridian #15, Negation Prequel, Sojourn Prequel and #1, and a preview of The Path. EDGE #1 will contain: The First #8-#10, Mystic #15 and #16, Ruse #1, Scion #15, and Sigil #15. Each "in-process" series begins with the first issue following the second trade paperback collection and FORGE and EDGE both contain a significantly expanded "Story So Far" description for new readers, making it easy to jump onboard. "CrossGen was founded around a very simple idea," said Mark Alessi, CrossGen's Publisher. "We set out to make comics relevant again to a mainstream audience. Part of doing that was telling stories that map to mainstream genres and tastes. Genres like science fiction, fantasy, mystery, etc. -- the kind of stories that make up a large percentage of the fiction categories of the major booksellers. However, this was only part of the overall concept. We also needed to put those comics into a package that makes price performance sense to this mainstream audience. People buy books, so we've serialized our stories in a book format. People expect value for their dollar, so we've put together a package that can be sold at a very competitive price. We call this new product Compendia, and the first two, more specifically -- FORGE and EDGE." FORGE and EDGE are the first stage of a planned mass-market initiative set to attract a great many new readers to the comic book industry. Further announcements regarding these plans will be forthcoming in 20- 30 days. "It's not about how many comics can we sell, but how many new readers can we bring into the comics industry," said CrossGen Vice President Business Development, Tony Panaccio. "This mass-market initiative is huge, greater than any thing that's ever been tried in this business. When those new readers come to comic stores looking for a product they understand and can afford, FORGE and EDGE will be there waiting. And they'll be waiting for them twice a month, every month, when they return again and again." FORGE and EDGE will not only appeal to new readers, but to existing readers looking for a new product choice. With the addition of Compendia to its line, CrossGen now offers readers three completely separate and easy ways to buy, read and enjoy their stories. CrossGen offers single-issue comic books, trade paperbacks, and now Compendia. "We've been using this analogy around the office when explaining the types of choices we're offering readers," said Ian M. Feller, Director of Corporate Communications for CrossGen. "Consider your favorite soft drink, say cola. That cola is offered in many different forms for purchase. There's the 12 ounce can, 16 ounce bottle, 20 ounce bottle, 32 ounce bottle, 1 liter bottle, 64 ounce bottle, or it is available from a soda fountain, all at different prices. But in the end, it's all the same product. We are taking that formula and applying it to comics. And if you want something other than cola, you can choose one of our different genres the way you would a different soft drink flavor." FORGE and EDGE also appeal to those existing readers that are looking for a cost-effective way to try additional CrossGen titles. "We have a large percentage of readers that have been reading more than just one of our titles because of the overarching backstory," CrossGen's Director of Marketing and Sales, Chris Oarr said. "With FORGE and EDGE, those readers can now pick up additional titles at what breaks down to be very little additional money. For example, if they currently buy three of our books for about nine dollars, they can try five titles for just a dollar or two more. And if they currently read five titles and are spending about $15, they can now read the entire line for about five dollars more." FORGE and EDGE are the types of products that will not only appeal to readers looking for a new price performance choice, but to anyone who may have considered trying a CrossGen book but either didn't know how to begin or felt that it was too late to start. FORGE and EDGE offer readers another choice in making a decision of how to start reading CrossGen's comics. "The train has not left the station," said James Breitbeil, Director of Marketing and Distribution for CrossGen. "Now with FORGE and EDGE, potential new readers have an easy and affordable way to jump aboard the CrossGen line. With CrossGen's Premier Retailer program up and running and gaining dozens of new members every week, potential readers know exactly where they can go to get them. There's no reason for anyone to feel they can't try CrossGen's stories." +++++ AMANO PAINTS FOR ACTOR Famed Japanese artist makes rare donation for charity fundraiser at MegaCon LOS ANGELES, Calif., – JANUARY 29, 2002 - ACTOR (A Commitment To Our Roots), a non-profit organization dedicated to helping older comic creators in need, is pleased and honored to announce an amazing addition to its next fundraising auction. Famed Japanese artist Yoshitaka Amano, who has recently broken into American Comics with Sandman: The Dream Hunters from DC Comics and Elektra & Wolverine: The Redeemer from Marvel Comics, has donated an original Elektra painting to ACTOR's next charity auction. The auction will take place at the Orlando MegaCon at the Orange County Convention Center from February 22-24, 2002. The piece is the very first Elektra painting Amano ever did, and to this point has only been seen in Previews as a promotional piece for the Elektra & Wolverine: The Redeemer series. More importantly, Amano, who has a dedicated following both in America and in Japan, is letting go of one of his paintings for the first time in 20 years. "I have always admired American Comics since the time of 10-cent comics," said Amano. "I used to go to second-hand bookstores in Kanda, the part of Tokyo known for great bookstores and special collections of rare books, in search of good art. I have always had special feelings towards this culture, and all my animation work has been heavily influenced by American Comics, 100%. So it means a lot to be able to contribute to the community I grew up with. I want to expect something good would come out of this not only within this industry, but something influential to outer world. I would like ACTOR to be influential not only in American Comics industry, but also for others." ACTOR is more than happy, and extremely honored, to accept Mr. Amano's gracious donation. "We were very excited for Mr. Amano to illustrate Redeemer for Marvel," said Marvel Editor-in-Chief and ACTOR board member Joe Quesada. "His reputation as an artist precedes him. Who doesn't know his work from 'Final Fantasy' or 'Gatchaman?' Well, something not everybody knows is that some of Amano's earliest influences came from his love of classic American comics. So it's very fitting, as well as a tremendous honor, for him to chose ACTOR as the worthy cause to which he's donating this striking piece." Proxy bidding is available for Japanese bidders who are interested in the Amano painting, but unable to attend the auction. Contact Auction Coordinator Tony Panaccio via fax at 813-891-0542 or via e-mail at tony.panaccio@crossgen.com for full information. The ACTOR MegaCon auction consists of 187 lots, including a treasure trove of original art and signed manuscripts from comic artists and writers. Kevin Smith, writer and director of such hit films as "Clerks" and "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back," will serve as guest auctioneer. Comic art lots from World Fantasy Award winner Charles Vess, "Liberty Meadows" creator Frank Cho, award-winning painter Alex Ross, WildStorm Productions Editorial Director Jim Lee, and popular CrossGen artists Butch Guice and Greg Land are all part of the auction. About ACTOR. ACTOR (A Commitment to Our Roots) is dedicated to providing relief and support to many of the talented creators who helped found the comic book industry. Many Golden Age or Silver Age creators toiled in comics' earlier days for low pay and with a nonexistent pension plan. Today, many of these people who laid the groundwork that today's comic industry works on may be in financial need. Be it due to age, health, or just low salaries with no retirement plan, they may need a hand. ACTOR provides a safety net for former comic creators in need. ACTOR is dedicated to helping creators with emergency medical aid, financial support, and entrance back into paying work. ACTOR's 501 (c) (3) paperwork, making it an official non-profit organization, was approved by the federal government in February, 2001. For more information or to send donations to ACTOR please contact: ACTOR (A Commitment To Our Roots) 11301 Olympic Blvd, #587 Los Angeles, CA 90064 Tel: 310 268 1530 About MegaCon MegaCon is the Southeast's premier comics, gaming, anime and multi- media event, featuring over 100,000 square feet of exhibit space. Among the hundreds of comic book creators on hand to meet fans and sign autographs include: Sergio Aragonés, Brian Michael Bendis, Carmine Infantino, Mike Avon Oeming, George Pérez, David Mack, Greg Rucka, Barry Windsor-Smith, Bernie Wrightson, Greg Land, Joseph Michael Linsner, Nick Cardy, George Tuska, Martin Nodell and Harry Lampert. For more information or to order MegaCon tickets, go to www.megaconvention.com For continuing updates and to view new art donated to the Orlando MegaCon auction, go to www.ACTORComicFund.org Art attached: Yoshitaka Amano "Elektra" promotional painting from Elektra & Wolverine: The Redeemer +++++ Dionnet/Bilal Classic, Exterminator 17 Re-colored for New Album Los Angeles – January 31st, 2002 – Humanoids Publishing is pleased to announce the scheduled April release of the newly colored graphic album, Exterminator 17. This album boasts an extremely strong creative team, pairing Nikopol Trilogy artist, Enki Bilal, with Les Humanoides Associes founder, writer, and French television personality, Jean- Pierre Dionnet. This is the first Dionnet album offered by Humanoids in English. Rounding out the project is a new master re-coloring by comics veteran Dan Brown, whose work has been featured in the ongoing Incal series from Humanoids. This version will be used for a French-language edition as well. Exterminator 17 will mark the first time that Humanoids plans to follow up one of their graphic albums with a comic series. Currently a work- in-progress, the sequel to Exterminator 17 is being written by Dionnet, and will feature artwork from Igor Baranko (Pifitos: A Newly Found Unknown Poem of Homer). Further details about this series will be announced as they become available. "This is a really exciting project for us", said Ian Sattler, Marketing Manager for Humanoids. "An album that features the incredible talents of Enki Bilal is one thing. But when it's on a book that signals the return of Dionnet, who was one of the founders of the original Metal Hurlant; that just makes for something really special. I think that everybody will also be blown away by Dan Brown's colors; they are like the icing on the cake. We can't wait to get Exterminator 17 into the stores." Exterminator 17 takes place in a universe where fierce android warriors called, "Exterminators," wage war for their human masters. The man who created these killers is about to die. As his soul leaves his body, it is transferred into the shell of one of the Exterminator androids. Now living as Exterminator 17, this killing machine with a human essence sets about freeing his creations from the humans that control them. Exterminator 17 is a full color, 66-page, graphic album. It ships with a suggested retail price of $15.95. Humanoids Publishing is a division of The Humanoids Group, with offices in Paris, Brussels, Saigon, Geneva and Los Angeles. The Humanoids Group is a multi-faceted conglomerate headed by Chairman Fabrice Giger. Humanoids features subsidiaries that include an internationally renowned graphic novel/comic book publishing house, a 3-D animation and visual effects studio, an animation software development company and an entity currently developing interactive, role-playing computer games. Cover art for Exterminator 17 can be downloaded at: http://www.humanoids-publishing.com/pr/Exter17.jpg Sample interior pages for Exterminator 17 can be downloaded at: http://www.humanoids-publishing.com/pr/Ext17pg01.jpg http://www.humanoids-publishing.com/pr/Ext17pg13.jpg http://www.humanoids-publishing.com/pr/Ext17pg23.jpg For more information or a complete product list: Call: (323) 850-5802 or E-mail: ian.sattler@humanoids-publishing.com If you would like to read reviews of other Humanoids titles, please visit the following links: www.marsimport.com www.icomics.com +++++ THE LANGUAGE OF COMICS: WORD AND IMAGE Edited by Robin Varnum and Christina T. Gibbons University Press of Mississippi $46.00, hardback, ISBN 1-57806-413-9 $18.00, paperback, ISBN 1-57806-414-7 Book News for Immediate Release Scholars study how word and image fuse in comics Writers such as Sven Birkerts have lamented that literature is dead and the image has taken over as the dominant mode of thought and communication. But in their new book THE LANGUAGE OF COMICS: WORD AND IMAGE (University Press of Mississippi) editors Robin Varnum and Christina T. Gibbons say that in comics, word and image are working in tandem. "Few American critics have yet looked at comics as a site where words and images intersect," they write. "We hope with the essays in this volume to redress that state of affairs." "Such specialized features as word balloons, zip ribbons, and even the panel frames which enclose scenes or segments of a narrative can be manipulated with great sophistication," the editors write. Their collection of essays explores this sophistication. The first six see words and images as separate art forms that play with or against each other. David Kunzle finds that words restrict the meaning of the art of Adolphe Willette and Theophile-Alexandre Steinlen in Le Chat Noir. David A. Beronä, examining wordless novels, argues that the ability to read pictures depends on the ability to read words. Todd Taylor draws on classical rhetoric to demonstrate that images in The Road Runner are more persuasive than words. N. C. Christopher Couch writing on THE YELLOW KID and Robert C. Harvey discussing early New Yorker cartoons are both interested in the historical development of the partnership between words and images in comics. Frank Cioffi traces a disjunctive relationship of opposites in the work of Andrzej Mleczko, Ben Katchor, R. Crumb, and Art Spiegelman. The last four essays explore the integration of words and images. Among five comic book adaptations of HAMLET Marion D. Perret finds one in which words and images form a dialectic. Jan Baetens critiques the semiotically inspired theory of Phillippe Marion. Catherine Khordoc explores speech balloons in ASTERIX THE GAUL. Gene Kannenberg, Jr., demonstrates how the Chicago-based artist Chris Ware blurs the difference between word and image. Robin Varnum, an instructor of English at the American International College in Springfield, Massachusetts, has been published in WRITING ON THE EDGE, JOURNAL OF ADVANCED COMPOSITION, HARVARD LIBRARY BULLETIN, and RHETORIC SOCIETY QUARTERLY. Christina T. Gibbons, an independent scholar living in Brattleboro, Vermont, has been published in JOURNAL OF REGIONAL CULTURES. For more information contact Steven B. Yates, Assistant Marketing Manager/Promotions, 601.432.6459, e-mail syates@ihl.state.ms.us. Read more about the book at: http://www.upress.state.ms.us/catalog/fall2001/the_language_of_comics.html Steven B. Yates Assistant Marketing Manager/Promotions University Press of Mississippi 3825 Ridgewood Road Jackson, MS 39211 SYates@ihl.state.ms.us Ph 601.432.6459 Fax 601.432.6217 +++++ From the SPLASH PAGE of Comicon.com at: http://www.comicon.com/splash/ REAL LIFE CATWOMAN ARRESTED! COSTUMED ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVIST CLIMBS SMOKESTACK IN PROTEST! January 31: A woman dressed as the DC superheroine, CATWOMAN was arrested in Shasta lake, California on Wednesday after climbing a 125-fooy tall smokestack at a fiberglass manufacturing plant and remaining there for seven hours. The plant, which has been shuttered for years amid concerns over emissions and water use is scheduled to reopen within a week. The SACRAMENTO BEE is reporting: "Celeste Draisner, 27, of Mountain Gate said she was protesting health dangers she claims are posed by the fiber glass plant. Draisner was dressed in full Catwoman gear, donning a mask, cape, over-sized ears and a tail similar to those worn by the Batman comic book character of Gotham City fame." THE SACRAMENTO BEE said: "Draisner snuck up the smokestack at about 5 a.m., stayed there for awhile and told negotiators she would come down "when she was good and ready," said Shasta County sheriff's Lt. Harry Bishop. Good and ready turned out to be about noon when Draisner walked down from the perch and was arrested, handcuffed and taken to jail. She later posted $1,000 and was been released. Her attorney says her choice of protest attire was a mystery. "The Catwoman risked her life to save the lives of others," said Draisner's lawyer Eric Berg. +++++ From the Comics Continuum at http://www.comicscontinuum.com/: DAREDEVIL MOVIE UPDATE Michael Clarke Duncan has signed to play the Kingpin in the live-action Daredevil movie from 20th Century Fox and New Regency. Duncan is expected to join a cast that includes Ben Affleck as Matt Murdock/Daredevil, Jennifer Garner as Elektra and Colin Farrell as Bullseye. Duncan's credits include The Green Mile, Planet of the Apes and The Whole Nine Yards. Daredevil, written and directed by Mark Steven Johnson, is expected to go before the cameras in March for a tentative Feb. 14, 2003 release. Still to be cast is the role of Foggy Nelson. Brian Michael Bendis, who writes the Daredevil comic book and is executive producing MTV's Spider-Man animated series, said that the film's story is "what you want." "I think the shooting script for the Daredevil movie was about as exciting of a comic-book script as I've ever read," Bendis said. "The latest draft was quite tantalizing and very well written and very (Frank) Miller and pretty much what we want out of a Daredevil movie: Kingpin, Elektra, Daredevil and Bullseye. All the scenes are where they should be and all the beats are where they should be. And Foggy steals the movie from the version I read." POUNDED SOUNDTRACK Oni Press and Springman Records have announced the bands scheduled to appear on April's Pounded: The Official Comic Book Soundtrack. The disc is inspired by the upcoming comic by Brian Wood and Steve Rolston and will be featured in an article about the mini-series in an upcoming issue of SPIN Magazine. "The band response to this project has been amazing," said Springman Records chief Avi Ehrlich. "Determining the final list has been a difficult process. There are just so many groups that wanted to be a part of it. This is seriously going to be one of the best punk rock compilation CDs out there." Bands scheduled to appear on the CD include: the Bouncing Souls, Bigwig, Dynamite Boy, Amazing Transparent Man, Fury 66, Pain, Big In Japan, Gob, Sloppy Meat Eaters, Strike Anywhere, One Man Army, Ann Beretta, King Monkey, the Eyeliners, Mr. T Experience, Mid Carson July, and the Teen Idols. In addition to a full-length audio CD, the Pounded disc also includes a multimedia section. Fans can check out full-color Pounded comic strips, visit the creators' websites find a local comic specialty store and access information on the Pounded mini-series. "I've never seen a comic book tie-in as cool as this," said series editor James Lucas Jones. "Comic fans get the chance to check out a bunch of great new music and comics get exposure in a whole new arena." Pounded #1 will arrive in stores on April 3 and will cost $2.95. The soundtrack will arrive in stores on April 17 and will cost $7.95. +++++ From Newsarama at http://www.comicon.com/Newsarama/ MOORE ACCEPTS MARVEL'S APOLOGY Wishing to see the whole matter surrounding the Captain Britain copyright resolved and go away to allow him to focus on writing comics and other work, Alan Moore told Newsarama this morning that he accepted Joe Quesada's apology yesterday when Marvel's Editor-in-Chief called him to explain what had happened with the volume, from the copyright to the missing page. "Joe told me that he was going to be publishing an apology and when the book was reissued, which should be fairly shortly, and then it would have the copyright notice," Moore said. "I told him that if all that happened, that would be okay with me. "He did apologize for the fact that this had happened at all, and that someone should have been taking greater care. He told me that there had been some firings at the Marvel trade paperback division - this wasn't anything that I would ever want anyone to lose a job over, but it did show a degree of contrition. I take Joe at face value. I'm sure he's a man of his word, so if all of this comes to pass, that would satisfy me. That's the long and the short of it - it sounds like it was an unfortunate blip for which all parties concerned should be sorry, and have to walk it off." MARVEL 'STICKS IT' TO MOORE In his apology to Alan's Moore and Davis early this week over the incorrect indicia in the Captain Britain trade paperback failing to observe them as the copyright holders of the collected stories, Marvel's Joe Quesada promised to correct the error in future printings. Turns out Marvel has come up with a way to correct the error for the current printing…or at least amend the error anyway. Quesada tells Newsarama Diamond Comics Distributors volunteered to distribute stickers to retailers through their weekly Diamond Dateline publication with the corrected indicia (which follows). He believes at least 20 of these stickers will be sent to retailers with Dateline in one of the next two editions, with retailers having the option to request more. "This way if someone wants to have the correct indicia on the book they can just plop this on. We would like to encourage retailers to help me make up for my mistake," said with a chuckle. "I called Alan today and read it to him to make sure it was correct and we're golden. " "Because it seems like the right thing to do," responded the Editor-in- Chief, asked why they went with this approach. "It was a suggestion that came from Stuart Moore who may have heard it from a fan, but I'm not sure. It just sounded like a good idea." Asked about another reader suggestion, recalling the first print run, Quesada said that was an impulse of his, but that Bill Jemas brought up a "good point" in response. "There are so many ways to make things right and to destroy stuff isn't always the right or most positive way to go. Pulping books doesn't really help anyone. "We've been trained to believe that that's a positive way to do things by the folks across town who in my opinion do it way too often," he said, slipping in a familiar nudge to Marvel's cross-town rivals. "Ever since the Nudey Elektra incident I came to realize that there's always a better way than destroying books. Sometimes there is no alternative, but to live with ones finger on the pulp button is not a positive way around problems. We came to terms with Alan, he's a real gentleman, and we didn't have to destroy books." Here is the corrected indicia, as provided by Marvel: CAPTAIN BRITAIN(tm). Contains material originally published in magazine form as X-MEN ARCHIVES #2 - 7. First Printing, January 2002. ISBN # 0-7851-0855-6. Published by MARVEL COMICS, a division of MARVEL ENTERTAINMENT GROUP, INC. OFFICE OF PUBLICATION: 10 EAST 40th STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10016. Copyright © 1995, 2001 Marvel Characters, Inc. All rights reserved. Original U.K. copyright in text and illustrations: Alan Moore and Alan Davis. Price $19.95 in the U.S. and $31.95 in Canada (GST #R127032852). AUCOIN JOINS SUPERMAN TEAM From the "Just the facts ma'am" department. DC has confirmed that artist Derec Aucoin has been named as the next regular penciler of Adventures of Superman. Aucoin, who penciled issue #590 and #599 last year will join writer Joe Casey with July's issue #606, after a three-issue stint (#603-605) by artist Carlos Meglia. DC TARGETS NEW GREEN ARROW WRITER One of Kevin Smith's biggest draws for comic book publishers is the audience and recognition he has outside - and in addition to - regular comic book readers. So when it came to picking Smith's successor on Green Arrow, DC went outside the box again, picking a name that might not be immediately recognized by comic fans, but has an audience of millions all its own. Today the publisher announced New York Times bestselling author Brad Meltzer is slated to take over as the new writer of Green Arrow with issue #16. Meltzer's works include the novels The Tenth Justice, Dead Even, The First Council, and The Millionaires, which is currently #3 on the New York Times bestseller list and #1 on the Barnes & Noble bestseller list. According to DC, Meltzer has also contributed short fiction to USA Weekend, the London Sunday Times, and the anthology The Games We Played. Meltzer joins series penciler Phil Hester and inker Ande Parks on DC's best selling monthly series. According to DC, Hester and Parks with remain with the series "at least" until Smith's Brave and the Bold series is ready to begin production. That may be a ways away, as Smith recently revealed to Newsarama he'll launch Marvel's Black Cat before beginning work on Brave and the Bold. The status of cover artist Matt Wagner, who Smith previously announced would leave with him with issue #15, is still to be determined. "I'm sad to be leaving Green Arrow," said Kevin Smith, "but I'm secure in the knowledge that Brad's going to take Arrowhead for one helluva ride after I'm gone. I know I'll still be buying the book on a monthly basis after my run's finished. I suggest you all do the same. Brad's not going to let you down." "Brad brings tons of enthusiasm about Ollie Queen, DC, and comics in general to the party," said Group Editor Bob Schreck. "He's a hell of a storyteller. Both The Tenth Justice and The Millionaires had me biting my fingernails and scratching my head trying to figure out what was going to happen next! Having read his initial plot, Brad's already off to a fantastic start on Green Arrow, building on the foundation Kevin created for the series. I think he's going to surprise everybody." "I wanted to bring on a writer that had as much love and understanding of the character that Kevin does," Schreck told Newsarama Tuesday afternoon, asked if 'looking outside the box' was intentional on his part. "I didn't care where I found them. 'In' or 'out' of the box... so to speak. "Brad loves Green Arrow, not only from his days of reading as a youth, but he's also an avid fan of Kevin's current run. Like Kevin, Brad's knowledge and love of the character, hasn't blinded him into wanting to merely reconstruct that same Green Arrow from days of old. As any true professional, Brad's excited about the challenge before him. The challenge of bringing something new to this great guy named Ollie." Meltzer, who's currently on a national book tour for The Millionaires, is reportedly a lifelong comics reader who names Alan Moore, Neil Gaiman and Warren Ellis as three of his favorite authors. "Kevin has injected an amazing level of energy and enthusiasm into a character that was - quite literally - dead, and I just feel lucky that they're passing the quiver on to me," said Meltzer. "It's an honor, and I can't think of a more fun character to write, or a better person to follow on a book. Kevin's a master of two genres. The Stanley and His Monster reference was so good I was literally jealous." "Kevin set a very high standard for us to measure up to," Schreck added, "and I'm telling you - Brad has already set a course Green Arrow that I'm certain the fans of the series will really enjoy. I know that me, Phil Hester, Ande Parks, (colorist) James Sinclair and (letterer) Sean M. Konot are definitely up for it." Schreck told Newsarama finding Meltzer was pretty simple - a friend turned him onto Meltzer's work and when Schreck became aware of the author's love of comics, a simple phone call got the ball rolling. The editor wouldn't offer up any details as to the new writer's plans, however_ "That would be telling, sorry," he said. "But the proof is in the pudding. He's not Kevin, so there's clearly going to be a difference. How that finally shakes out, well, once again, we're all going to have to wait until the book is done. He's a phenomenal writer, though. I know everyone's gonna love what he brings to this series." BENDIS WRITES ANIMATED MTV SPIDER-MAN This morning, on his message board writer Brian Bendis confirmed what he called the "worst kept secret in comics – this week" – that he is writing the previously announced animated Spider-Man series which will air on MTV. Bendis said that he will be listed as an executive producer on the series, which will begin this fall, and has written both the pilot episode as well as a number of episodes for the first season. In clearing up rumors surrounding the series, Bendis said that while the series features computer-generated imagery, "you have never seen CGI like this. Forget what you are picturing. It does not look like that. Its using CGI to create a traditional and really spectacular Spider-Man. Great character acting and animation." The series will be based on movie continuity rather than Ultimate Spider-Man, but will have the same tone and feel of Ultimate Spider- Man. "And no, smart asses, that doesn't mean that it'll take eight episodes to finish one story," Bendis added. "What it means is that we are being very reverent to the characters, humor, and situations that make Spider-Man the character that he is. And if we concocted something in Ultimate Spider-Man that we feel worked, like, lets say, Kraven, an adaptation of it might pop up in the series. "The guys at Sony animation are comic book freaks of the highest degree and are treating this as the gig of a lifetime. As, by the way, am I. It looks as after years of smacking my bald head against the walls, something is actually going to get produced. As MTV announced earlier in the week, the show is greenlit and in physical production." Bendis said that, as all his monthly books are all written into the summer, working on the series should not impact his comic workload in the immediate future. "But," Bendis added, "I do have to put aside all of the future projects I was developing until the season is over, and thankfully there doesn't seem to be any good movies coming out until May, so… I think I have it all together. "To all of you who have been kind enough to allow me write some of your comics, I thank you for being so vocally supportive of me and my work. I know for a fact it is because of you that this opportunity has been afforded me. Thanks!" KUBERT JOINS GAIMAN FOR '1602' Writer Neil Gaiman has confirmed artist Andy Kubert, currently illustrating Marvel's successful Origin mini-series, will follow- up that assignment by illustrating Gaiman's six-issue Marvel limited series, which is currently being referred to by the working title '1602'. "I'm writing the first script right now, and it's surprising me in a lot of ways," Gaiman told Newsarama. "It's fun to do a Stan & Jack (& Steve & co)." As previously announced, profits from the mini-series (edited by Stuart Moore) will go to Marvels and Miracles, LLC, which was created to clarify the legal rights to Miracleman. Though declining to discuss further details of the series, Gaiman did say the series is not a 'What If' story, as has been rumored/speculated. Editor Stuart Moore said that there was a "security lockdown" on the project, adding only, "We're not denying or confirming any rumors about '1602' at this time. I can say one thing - the rumor that the title refers to the 16' 2" billboard we're putting up on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood to promote the project - is totally false." And Andy Kubert did let out a small tidbit about the art: "We are looking for this to be done in a similar style that we are using in Origin," Kubert said. "With the same colorist, Richard Isanove, doing the colors." LIEFELD TAPS MILLAR FOR YOUNGBLOOD RETURN Next month the remaining Image Comics founders are scheduled to celebrate the publisher's 10th Anniversary in a special hardcover volume, and another former Image member has plans to celebrate the occasion in his own way. According to Rob Liefeld, his Awesome Comics will be publishing a new Youngblood limited series intended as a project, "commemorating the 10 year anniversary of the book that started a revolution." Liefeld reports he will illustrate the series himself, and it will be written (plotted and scripted) by Mark (The Ultimates, Ultimate X-Men) Millar. "Mark is hands down my favorite writer in the comics industry, if not my favorite of all time," said Liefeld. "The Authority and Ultimate X- Men as well as The Ultimates are the comics I most look forward to reading.I'm absolutely thrilled to be working with him on this. He writes the kind of comics I dream about drawing. There were several projects that we were considering for the 10-Year Anniversary of Youngblood, and needless to say, we shelved them all once Mark became available." The project is titled Youngblood: Bloodsport according to Liefeld and he says it will be a three-four issue, 25-pp, series, "Depending on Mark's vision." Though dormant for some time, Liefeld said Awesome Comics is still a viable publishing entity, and that Youngblood: Bloodsport will be published in a variety of formats - published and online - within a few months. "Definitely by summer 2002," he said. Liefeld reports he's been "actively producing" a whole roster of projects he plans on releasing. "I continue to stockpile projects with every intention of sharing them with the public in the near future," he explained. "The Millar Youngblood project will probably be the first out of the gate, eventually everything else will follow." Those projects according to Liefeld include: "Kurt Busiek, Eric Stephenson, Chad and Eric Walker on Youngblood: Genesis, New Kaboom by Stephenson and Dietrich Smith, Warchild by Alan Moore, Doom's IV by Keith Giffen, Avengelyne by Marat Mychaels, Re: Gex by Jeph Loeb and myself, Century by Stephenson, Keron Grant." Liefeld wished to defer further details on Bloodsport to Millar, who is currently wrapping up a vacation and was not immediately available for comment. "It's his show, his vision," said Liefeld. +++++ From Comics2Film at http://www.comics2film.com JUSTICE LEAGUE -------------- Although the original January schedule for Cartoon Network called for only encores of previously aired Justice League episodes, the revised schedule saw the airing of part 1 of "Paradise Lost" this past Monday night. The episode focuses on Wonder Woman and features Felix Faust as the villain. Repeat showings of that episode are set to air Friday and Sunday for anyone who missed it. Jan. 28 9:30 p.m. Paradise Lost Pt. 2 (episode 11) Feb. 2 12:30 p.m. Paradise Lost Pt. 2 (episode 11) Feb. 3 8:30 p.m. Paradise Lost Pt. 2 (episode 11 - Widescreen) Feb. 4 9:30 p.m. The Enemy Below Pt. 1 (episode 6) Feb. 9 12:30 p.m. The Enemy Below Pt. 1 (episode 6) Feb. 10 7:00 p.m. The Enemy Below Pt. 1 (episode 6 - Widescreen) Feb. 11 9:30 p.m. The Enemy Below Pt. 2 (episode 7) Feb. 16 12:30 p.m. The Enemy Below Pt. 2 (episode 7) Feb. 17 7:00 p.m. The Enemy Below Pt. 2 (episode 7 - Widescreen) Feb. 23 12:30 p.m. Paradise Lost Pt. 2 (episode 11) Feb. 23 10:00 p.m. Paradise Lost Pt. 2 (episode 11 - Widescreen) Feb. 24 7:00 p.m. War World Pt. 1 (episode 12) Mar. 2 12:30 p.m. War World Pt. 1 (episode 12) Mar. 2 10:00 p.m. War World Pt. 1 (episode 12 - Widescreen) Mar. 3 7:00 p.m. War World Pt. 2 (episode 13) CATWOMAN -------- In a report detailing the recent career moves of producer Ed McDonnell, Variety reveals that McDonnell is a producer on the Catwoman movie. Ashley Judd is set to star in the film, which spins out of the Batman movie franchise and loosely adapts the comic book character. John Rogers (Mage) wrote the script. http://www.variety.com BULLETPROOF MONK ---------------- Michael Stevens at Sneak Peek tells us that filming on Bulletproof Monk will begin in Toronto on March 2, 2002. The info comes from the Ontario Media Development Corporation Media list. http://sneakpeek1.tripod.com/sneakpeek THE HULK -------- Dark Horizons reports that Frederick Hulmes will serve as director of photography on The Hulk. Hulmes also paired with Hulk director Ang Lee for The Ice Storm. http://www.darkhorizons.com +++++ From Zentertainment; HTTP://WWW.ZENTERTAINMENT.COM To sign a friend up or begin receiving ZEN yourself, e-mail: subscribe@ZENtertainment.com <<- - - - - - - - - - - - - - MOVIES - - - - - - - - - - - - - ->> Connery in Talks for LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN - According to The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, Sean Connery is in early talks to star in the adaptation of the Alan Moore comic miniseries THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN. Stephen Norrington (Blade) will direct the FOX film, which has literary characters including Captain Nemo, Dr. Jekyll, Allan Quarterman, and Mina Harker teaming up to stop an evil madman. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com http://www.foxmovies.com ZEN QUICK HITS: - DAREDEVIL will open on 2/14/03 +++++ From the DC Comics Online Newsletter at http://www.dccomics.com An unprecedented coalition of comic-book publishers and creative talent has joined forces to create SEPTEMBER 11 Volumes 1 and 2, intended to honor and benefit the victims of the stateside terrorist attacks that shocked the world on September 11, 2001. On January 26, New York's Exit Art Gallery will feature REACTIONS, an exhibition showcasing artwork from both SEPTEMBER 11 volumes in addition to other submissions of art, poetry, photographs, and other pieces of art collected for this show. The show runs through March 30 at 548 Broadway in Manhattan. Over 200 artists and writers have delicately crafted their own artistic reactions to the events of September 11, 2001, creating stories and images that the art form of comics is uniquely able to capture. Coordinated by Chaos Comics, Dark Horse Comics, DC Comics, (and its imprints VERTIGO and WILDSTORM as well as MAD Magazine) and Image Comics with assistance from Oni Press and Top Shelf Productions, SEPTEMBER 11 is a two-volume companion set scheduled for release in January. Artwork from these books also will be shown as part of an international exhibit called REACTIONS at Exit Art in New York City beginning on January 26, 2002. "On September 11th, we all felt like we were connected to everyone who suffered from the terrorist acts," said Dark Horse President and Publisher Mike Richardson. "All over the country, and throughout our industry, everyone wanted to do something to help. As a result, an incredible array of talent came together to make this amazing project possible." "The finest creative talent in comics had stories they wanted to tell about the heroism and horrors of September 11th, and where the world is going from here, said Paul Levitz, Executive Vice President and Publisher — DC Comics. "It was a privilege to work with them on a book that's both heartwarming and heartrending at the same time." Exit Art represents an independent view of American Culture. A non- profit cultural center in New York, Exit Art has charted the new in art and contemporary culture since its founding in 1982. Over the course of more than 19 years, Exit Art has been presenting groundbreaking exhibitions on visual art, design, performance, popular culture and media, bringing under-recognized concepts and art practices to a larger public locally and globally. NEWS FROM THE MAINSTREAM PRESS FoxNews.com has posted a story on SEPTEMBER 11 Volumes 1 and 2, including artwork and quotes from DC Executive VP & Publisher Paul Levitz. Locus Online has posted a review of GREEN LANTERN: WILLWORLD, with Philip Shropshire writing, "…if you're looking for a comic that's worth $25, then I highly recommend picking [it] up. Shropshire also reviews THE DARK KNIGHT STRIKES AGAIN, writing, "This is pure comic fun, dubbed with an edgy political subtext." The December 28 edition of the Chicago Tribune features the article "Wonder Woman Still going Strong at 60," in which Web Behrens quotes Phil Jimenez and Jill Thompson. The December 28 edition of the Aurora, IL, Beacon-News includes the article "Still Wonderful," about WONDER WOMAN: SPIRIT OF TRUTH, in which Mike Danahey interviews Alex ross. The January 2 edition of the Hammond, IL, Times, includes the article "Take That, High Prices," about local enthusiasm for BATMAN: THE 10- CENT ADVENTURE. The January 3 edition of the Abilene, TX, Reporter-News includes the article "Release of Dime Batman Comic Brings Prices from '60s to Mind," about BATMAN: THE 10-CENT ADVENTURE. The January 4 edition of the Kansas City Star includes an item on BATMAN: THE 10-CENT ADVENTURE. The same item was picked up in the December 31 edition of the Detroit News. The December 28 edition of the Portland Oregonian includes the article "Wonders Never Cease," in which Kristi Turnquist discusses WONDER WOMAN: SPIRIT OF TRUTH with Alex Ross. The December 28 edition of the Preview magazine section in the Kansas City Star includes "A Hundred Highlights from the Year that's Running Out," which includes "Superman Can't Save Kansas," (#87), referring to "Our Worlds at War," with a quote from Senior Editor Eddie Berganza. The December 30 edition of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel includes an item on MAD Magazine's annual "Dumbest People, Events and Things" list," with a quote from co-editor John Ficarra. The December 23 edition of the Edmonton, Alberta, Sunday Journal included the article "Casebook Collects 40 Years of Mad's Spy Vs. Spy," about the Watson-Guptill Publication Spy Vs. Spy: The Complete Casebook. Also mentioned in the article is the Chronicle Books title Jack Cole and Plastic Man. In the December 29 edition of the Washington Times, Joseph Szadkowski names THE DARK KNIGHT STRIKES AGAIN "Favorite Comic-Book Limited Series" of 2001, writing, "Mr. Miller delivers a political and impactful diatribe while giving readers a KINGDOM COME smorgasbord of characters." The January 4 edition of the L.A. Weekly includes the feature "The Preservationist," in which Bill Smith spoke with designer/writer Chip Kidd about BIZARRO COMICS, THE DARK KNIGHT STRIKES AGAIN, WATCHMEN, and BATMAN: YEAR ONE. The December 28 edition of the Portland, ME, Phoenix includes the article "From Darkness to Light," in which Douglas Wolk interviews Frank Miller about THE DARK KNIGHT STRIKES AGAIN. The January 3 edition of the Chicago Sun-Times includes the article "Wonder Woman a Perfect Fit for Model," in which Paige Smoron speaks to Alex Ross and Rhonda Hampton, Ross's model for Wonder Woman in WONDER WOMAN: SPIRIT OF TRUTH. The March issue of Stance includes an article about Alan Moore entitled "Vibrant Visionary," which mentions publications including V FOR VENDETTA, SWAMP THING, WATCHMEN, PROMETHEA, TOM STRONG, and TOMORROW STORIES. NEWS FROM THE TRADE PRESS The January issue of Tomart's Action Figure Digest includes a two-page spread on upcoming DC Direct products including the BLUE BEETLE, PHANTOM LADY, QUESTION, and UNCLE SAM ACTION FIGURES, the UNCLE SAM POSTER, the SUPERGIRL and BATGIRL POSTERS BY ALEX ROSS, the CLASSIC LEX LUTHOR MINI-BUST, the GREEN ARROW & SPEEDY DELUXE ACTION FIGURE SET, the SOLOMON GRUNDY DELUXE ACTION FIGURE, the BEPPO THE SUPER-MONKEY SOFT TOY, the BRAVE & THE BOLD #28 STATUE, and the DC COMICS POCKET SUPER HEROES. Comic Shop News #761 features the Alex Ross cover image from SEPTEMBER 11 VOLUME 2, along with the article "Comics that Care," about SEPTEMBER 11 VOLUMES 1 and 2. This issue also presents the 12th annual Red K Awards, with GREEN ARROW, THE DARK KNIGHT STRIKES AGAIN #1, the WB's Smallville, and the "Our Worlds at War" storyline all named as winners. The cover of the February 1 edition of Comics Buyer's Guide (#1472) features the headline "Celebrate 65 Years of Detective Comics," tying into the article inside by Jack Abramowitz "Tony's Tips" continues to review recent DC titles including THE DARK KNIGHT STRIKES AGAIN, FOUR WOMEN #1-3, THE GREEN ARROW BY JACK KIRBY, GREEN LANTERN #144, GREYSHIRT: INDIGO SUNSET #1-3, HUNTER: THE AGE OF MAGIC #2-6. THE CRUSADES #13 is reviewed in "Comics in Your Future," with Phil Mateer calling it, "_an increasingly impressive little series, with an issue that offers a perfect jumping-on point for new readers." BATMAN/DEATHBLOW: AFTER THE FIRE #1 is reviewed as well, with Cliff Biggers writing, "the Bermejo and Bradstreet collaboration seems to bring out the strong points of both artists." The panel looks at BATMAN: NINE LIVES, too, with Jeremy Schorr calling it, "a comic book that could have easily been a Raymond Chandler novel." This issue's "Reading Room" reviews the "Bruce Wayne: Murderer" storyline, with Brent Frankenhoff calling it "a compelling story for Bat-fans and former Bat-fans." Also reviewed are BATMAN: THE 10-CENT ADVENTURE, THE POWER COMPANY: POWERSURGE — JOSIAH POWER #1, and DOOM PATROL #4, which, S. A. Bennett writes "is really starting to come together." +++++ From Rich Johnston, THE 2000 SQUIDDY JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR, in his ALL THE RAGE Gossip Column at: http://www.SilverBulletComicBooks.com RUMOUR BARRIER "I accept that the following material is rumour and gossip, intended to entertain only. "I won't repeat the information inside as fact. I understand if I want the truth, I will go to Silver Bulletins. "I enter freely with my mind open and my blinkers off." Now, onto the rumours. Glenn 13 Fabry At Wildstorm Garth Ennis and Glenn Fabry's Authority one-shot. While DC aren't confirming its existence, Glenn isn't so shy. On his website, GlennFabry.Co.Uk, he writes, "I've just finished a graphic 'novelette' for Wildstorm: A 44 page page Garth Ennis story, called 'Kev' which takes the place of issues 30-31 of the Authority (the best-selling Wildstorm imprint). "It's got a new painted cover too, and apart from being my first interior black and white work for American comics, it's also my first black and white stuff I've done in over 12 years so please be kind. It's the story of, er, Kev, who is an ex-SAS man drafted in to eliminate the Authority by his mysterious boss. It's also Garth at his funniest, and is a wild rollercoaster ride of white-knuckle tension, that once seen will never ever be forgotten. People will remember where they were the day they pick this one up, I can you, for decades to come. (sorry bit strong that - too much - too much caffeine)." Fabry also writes, "We hope you like it, because Kev will be back (I'm saying this before he's even got here). Editorial response has been very positive, and I've been booked up as an interior artist for Birds of Prey (1 issue), Howard the Duck #3 and Warren Ellis project for Wildstorm starting February 2002." Visit Glenn's website, http://www.glennfabry.co.uk, and buy lots of lovely original artwork. This Has A Rumour Value Of 9 Out Of 10 Bend The Nee I understand that John Nee, exec and editor of Wildstorm fame, is leaving the West Coast to join DC proper as head of their Licensing/Publishing arm in their New York offices. Wildstorm sources did not choose to comment. This Has A Rumour Value Of 5 Out Of 10 Lost Pig So what's the story with Cerebus? British readers got their copies distributed by Diamond UK two weeks ago, subscribers got their copies a few days before that, and independent US distributors also delivered to respective stores. With everyone wanting to read Dave Sim's anti- creator-owned missive, was this the reason Diamond weren't distributing the comic? Diamond have shown a reticence to distribute material with a dubious copyright position in the past - was Diamond UK's shipping the book a repeat of the Elseworlds Eighty Page Giant story? No. Diamond's Mark Herr replied to enquires, "At the beginning of this year, we moved our Star/TRU location from Sparta, IL to Memphis, TN. When the issue of Cerebus (printed at Preney in Canada) shipped out, they sent it to Sparta. When it arrived there, it was forwarded on to Memphis. Memphis did receive the books this week and we are in the process of reshipping it out to the other centers. UK just got theirs early, because they ship direct, rather than through our reship center. The books should go out without further delay, and should be in stores next week or the week after at the very latest." This Has A Rumour Value Of 2 Out Of 10 Ink And Incapability One pro had a bone to pick with Marvel (no, not Alan Moore, we'll get to that in a minute). I received this screed early in the week. "MARVEL are looking to do away with inkers. The head honcho' (the guy above Jemas) is really pushing for this. They want to save money on FED EX shipping. They figure that, if the inkers are cut from the mix, they'll eliminate that extra cost. However, all Marvel has to do was have the inkers start scanning and sending the files straight to the colorists. Some inkers all over the industry already do this when in a crunch. Then, at the end of the issue, the inker can take all the pages and send them to the office. One shipment, one FED EX charge per issue from the inker instead of 4 or 5. But, that'll never happen. It makes too much sense. And Marvel Comics will start looking like shit. "Anyone who would even suggest that the comics across-the-board be digitally inked is obviously someone with little to no artistic acumen whatsoever. 95% of the books will look like garbage but this guy won't know the difference. You have to know what looks good to know what looks bad. This isn't to say that digital inking doesnt work at all. Some guys can pull it off. The fact of the matter is that it looks like utter crap with the vast majority. Editors know it, pencilers know it, and inkers damn sure know it. There are ways to cut costs without cutting quality. The guys at the top just need to be willing to listen and concede that, perhaps, art is not one of their areas of expertise. Marvel is on the brink of turning things around for the first time in years and, just as this is beginning to happen, the first thing the suits want to do is cut quality." Bill Jemas and Joe Quesada had something to say about all this. Bill wrote, "The people who Joe and I report to trust us as to comic book content/graphics decision making, and, while we welcome input from the board (we have very smart people on the board) they don't get involved in areas like this. Of course Marvel has been making advances in digitizing our pre-press process, and of course, I don't care to show our competition (distinguished and otherwise) a list of our current and proposed improvements. But I can say that nobody is thinking about moving toward universal digital inking. There are books (like Origin) that are produced by digital coloring over inks. But that was an artistic decision, not a financial one. That book is beautiful, it is also very expensive." Joe added, "Yes we are looking at having inkers scan images and receive scanned pencils, but not eliminating inkers, this is complete hogwash." There we go people. Black and white. And not digitally inked. This Has A Rumour Value Of 2 Out Of 10 Angel Purchase For those of you too far away to want to order Angel Passage, reviewed by All the Rage last week, it appears Top Shelf will be distributing this performance art CD by Alan Moore and Tim Perkins via Diamond in a few months. Order it from your local comic shop. This Has A Recommended Value Of 10 Out Of 10 Decepticon Rumours Adam Fortier wrote in response to last week's Dreamwave allegations about the Transformers deal. He writes, "Well, I can tell you a couple of things. One, we don't discuss the specifics of the contract (business policy). I will tell you for free, though, that pretty much all of your rumors are untrue..... totally." Fair enough. This Has A Slapped Wrist Value Of 8 Out Of 10 Wa-Wa Pedals At Dawn On the Black Panther Comicboard, Priest talked about why he turned down a writing gig on an upcoming Iron Fist series from Marvel, after he's portrayed him with acclaim recently in Black Panther. "I don't like competing with myself. Sometimes the worst thing a writer can do is go back to something fondly remembered from earlier in his career. Comparisons will undoubtedly be made. "Also, there are just so few artists who can draw martial arts convincingly. I don't know what it is, but every time Fist shows up (with all due respect to Sal, who did a terrific job), it's this Comic Book Karate. I'm not an artist, so I don't understand the complexities of why making the moves more accurate or at least more exciting seems to be a difficult task. But I really wouldn't be interested in doing a martial arts book without an artist who can convincingly deliver reasonably accurate martial arts moves. I've studied martial arts, and sometimes I have felt like I was wasting my time choreographing karate fight moves in comics because they don't translate well. "Without convincing moves, it's like casting someone who can't dance to play Michael Jackson. Makes for a very... odd... movie. "I think, in the history of American comics, Paul Gulacy singularly delivered the best run of comics with reasonably accurate (or if not accurate, exciting) martial arts moves. He was replaced by Mike Zeck, and Jim Starlin, who did _beautiful_ artwork, but the karate was Comic Book Karate. "That's my fear: I spend months doing detail work on a three- issue [Iron] Fist series, and it comes out looking like Jack Kirby's FF-- a wonderfully drawn comic, but the martial arts aren't convincing. "When you're talking about a guy like Iron Fist, you're talking about a multiple level master. He should have some _unbelieveable_ moves. And films like Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon have raised the bar on what audiences expect from a martial arts film or comic. "Bring me the head of an artist who can deliver that, in spades, and I'll gleefully sign on." And on recent rumours of Marvel's desire to give a blaxploitation feel to the book, in the light of Brian Azzarello's new Cage series, Priest replied: "Bill Jemas and Joe Quesada both worked diligently to keep [Black] Panther afloat, and personally green-lighted the online campaign that gave us a little bump in sales out there. "Staffers tend to talk in shorthand, and such an unfortunate term as 'Blackifying' *shudders involuntarily* was likely not a direct quote from anybody. "[Black] Panther as a premise, does not lend itself to more than occasional doses of the street-level hip-hop stuff. To maroon T'Challa in Brooklyn permanently would strain credibility on a number of fronts. "Moreover, if Marvel wants a hip-hop kid running around Harlem or whatever, they have any number of avenues to achieve that, including the ULTIMATE line and the MAX line. There's no apparent sound editorial basis for gutting an ongoing book to move in so radical a direction, let alone a book these two guys personally invested in. "All of which is to say, we're clear for the foreseeable future. ENEMY OF THE STATE II is being well received up at the office, and we're all in a very energized mood these days. Despite our ongoing struggle with sales, [Black] Panther is beloved from the top down at Marvel, and we're all concentrating on making THIS book the best it can be, doing work we're excited about and proud of. "[Open mouth-insert foot time] "In terms of other discussions of other projects: I'm excited and happy to support ANY effort to bring more plurality to the market. Brian Azzarello is a brilliant writer, and I don't envy the position he's in now, facing all manner of crushing criticism for a book that hasn't shipped yet. "It is likely nothing any of the companies do will please all of the people all of the time, but I think the very fact they're thinking about it--, that we, as a minority community actually exist as a concern to the companies-- is huge. If they make a misstep, so what. At least we're on the map. At least they're not pretending we don't exist (or that we don't have wallets). "The notion of something not being 'black enough' is rather patently ignorant to begin with, as it implies a singularity where none exists. African Americans are a plurality, and [Black] Panther is not a 'black' book. I never agreed to make it a 'black' book and, in fact, that discussion was central to my agreeing to take it on. Panther himself is not African American. He's African. And he is as true to being an African as I can manage: he is, in fact, an amalgam of two very good Nigerian friends of mine-- neither of whom listen to DMX or talk in street slang. "Equating 'blackness' with the lowest common denominator of thug life and so forth is extremely offensive. Having a bunch of white guys snickering around a conference table deciding what is and what is not black enough is also something I seriously doubt goes on because it is simply too stupid to imagine. It's like me and my black friends getting together to decide whether something is 'Japanese enough.' I know these guys, in this business we're in. They're my friends. I'll stand up for them-- this just doesn't happen. "The larger concern to the new question of blackness, here and elsewhere, is the issue of marketability. The bottom line is: can we sell the thing? Are we doing a minstrel show for a white audience or are we attempting to expand the market into minority communities? And do we expand the market by defining, for them and on their behalf, what is and what is not 'black'? Or do we offer them a choice? Could Black Panther , as it presently exists, be published concurrently with the rougher MAX stuff and whatever else is coming down the pike, and let the market dictate the ultimate direction these lines move in? "I don't know all the answers. What I DO know is, in this business, there's a very thin line between Hero and Goat. I think we're all banging the drum a bit too loudly and a bit too soon. Whatever side of this thing you're on, you have to admire the courage of conviction everyone attached to these new projects has. Maybe we all take a lesson from that and give everybody a little benefit of the doubt." This Has A Straight Talking Value Of 8 Out Of 10 Boil For Se7en Minutes… Overheard during an interview with David Fincher, director of Fight Club and Se7en, he's in talks with Frank Miller about directing the previously-reported-by-All-The-Rage Hard Boiled movie. Looks like this one might happen, folks! Also linked to the Hard Boiled project to star is... that's right, you guessed it, Nicolas Cage (also previously linked to Hellblazer, Ghost Rider and Superman - is there a comics character this guy doesn't want to play?) This Has A Rumour Value Of 8 Out Of 10 Missing Page As well as the indicia cock-up on the Captain Britain TPB (see the Newsarama article on Moore), it's also been noted by a number of people that there's a missing page. Also missing from the X-Men Archives editions. In the TPB is lies between pages 3 and 4 in the Judgement Day chapter and shows Captain Britain's first glimpse of another Earth. This Has A Slapped Forehead Value Of 9 Out Of 10 Hard Times I understand that the first twelve issues of Authority, by Warren Ellis, Bryan Hitch and Laura DePuy are to be collected in an oversized hardback edition. As an Authority reader who put off buying the TPBs because of the poor repro compared to the comics, this should be a real treat. This Has A Rumour Value Of 8 Out of 10 A Final Word Recently, the comics industry lost John Buscema, aged 74. Buscema work for Marvel is still being collected and sold. Under current Marvel corporate policy, any incentives (i.e., royalties) owed to him on or after his death, does not go to his estate or immediate family, but is kept by Marvel. This should change. This is as good a time to start as any. ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [5] Interviews Paul Dale Roberts Silhouet98@cs.com Interview with: David Gallaher, Writer of YOURS TRULY JOHNNY DOLLAR and creator of BRAND NAME! Interviewed by Paul Dale Roberts, Publisher - Jazma Universe Online! http://www.jazmaonline.com/ Question: Tell us something personal about yourself? Your family life, where you were born and raised, what schools you attended? Maybe some details from your resume? I was born in Hawaii. Most people don't know that. I don't look Hawaiian. I have two parents and three younger brothers. I was mostly raised in Baltimore, Maryland. I am a graduate of Goddard College. I majored in Comic Books and Cultural Studies. I am a professional writer and have been since 1997. I've don work for Marvel Comics, McGraw-Hill, Sylvan Learning Center and lots and lots of other places. Question: What was the first comic book you ever read? I think it was NOVA #1 back in the 1970's. But, really … that time period was pretty fuzzy. Question: What were your favorite comic books growing up? I didn't really discover comics till I was about 13 or 14. Sure, I adored the cartoons of THE SUPERFRIENDS, HULK, SPIDER-MAN AND HIS AMAZING FRIENDS and even TRANSFORMERS, but it wasn't until a quarter box sale during a giant city block party that I became a bit of an addict. After that, I became a devote follower of THE NEW WARRIORS, which had a lot to do with my childhood crush on Firestar. Question: Can you please tell us something about your new projects? I've got two projects that I'm found of right now. The first is YOUR TRULY, JOHNNY DOLLAR which is based of the old radio serial created by Jack Johnstone that ran for many, many years. The basic concept is that Johnny is the insurance investigator with the "action-packed expense account" and the tag line I have been using is "It's Insurance - Down the barrel of a gun!" My other project, still in development, is called BRAND NAME, with artist Gary Amaro [SANDMAN, DREAMING]. It's sorta like DILBERT MEETS THE MATRIX. More details about that to follow. Question: When can we expect YOURS TRULY, JOHNNY DOLLAR to be out on the stands? I'm thinking sometime late this year. Question: Who are some of the staff involved with this project? Ha! I feel like I'm introducing my rock and roll band. We've got the super talented Eric Theriault on pencils and it's all being published by the super awesome folks at Moonstone Books. Question: Do you have a website and if you do what is the URL address? Nope. I'm not nearly as HTML-inclined as I should be. Once it is up, it will be at http://www.davidgallaher.com. Till that time, I do have a website I muse on, which is: http://www.delphi.com/davidgallaher Question: How can somebody contact you? It seems like I'm everywhere. The best way to reach me is through my e- mail account: DavidGall1@aol.com Question: What is the history behind YOURS TRULY, JOHNNY DOLLAR? Billed as "insurance investigator with the action-packed expense account," YOURS TRULY JOHNNY DOLLAR ran in radio serial format from 1949 until 1962. Johnny Dollar became the embodiment of the American detective developed by Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler. And I think he is pretty rocking! Question: If you were stranded on a desert island, what 3 things would you bring with you and why? Food. Clothing. Shelter. Why? Because living without those things would be hard. Question: Your thoughts on the comic industry? I like comics. I want folks to put out good comics - and I really thing more people need to talk less and make better comics. Question: Your 3 favorite fictional heroes and why? Superman was the first movie I ever saw. So, he counts. I like Nova, because he's like a slacker and stuff. And I REALLY think Jack McCoy from LAW AND ORDER kicks some serious butt. However, if you were to ask me how each of those characters motivates and inspires me, well … that's harder to explain. Question: Here's an off-the-wall question. Have you ever experienced anything of the paranormal? Nope. Unless you count my birthing process. Question: Where do you want to be in 5 years? 10 years? I want to be employed. Question: Your 2 real life heroes and why? Andrew Vachss and John Walsh. They put Batman to shame. Question: What cons are you going to? Ummm … I'm not really a con person. I'm wicked shy. Question: What movies, cartoons and TV shows are your favorites? I love film. CITIZEN KANE, MEMENTO, ROPE, VERTIGO, GHOSTDOG all stand as some of my personal favorites. It's funny, my biggest influences in comics are Alfred Hitchcock and Tom Waits, neither of whom create comics. Go figure. Question: What books do you read? Books? As in comic books? NOBLE CAUSES. THUNDERBOLTS, BLACK PANTHER, SAVAGE DRAGON and a whole TON of indies. Aside from that, I stick to crime fiction and biology text books. Question: What are your hobbies and recreational activities? Film, Animation, Theatre, and Jazz all top the list. Question: That ends the interview, any last words? Yes. You didn't ask me about the time I handcuffed myself to the car on my first date with April Morris. Oh wait, maybe I wasn't supposed to share that. ****** Interview with: Michael Vance, Writer/Critic/Reviewer of Suspended Animation! Question: Tell us something personal about yourself? Your family life, where you were born and raised, what schools you attended? Maybe some details from your resume? I began to write at the age of eleven (about 1961). I was inspired to do so because of "The Time Machine" by H.G. Wells. This novel changed my life, and has impacted everything that I have since written. At eleven, and living in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, I watched at Saturday morning television show called "The Professor's Story Hour". A professor in a town about sixty miles from Oklahoma City encouraged his viewers to write stories and send them in. I did. I won one first place and two second place trophies for my stories, and appeared on the show. That first place story was also published in a little chapbook. I still own a copy. And I was on my way. I also published an off-campus paper called "The Shadow" at the college I attended in the late and turbulent '60s and early '70. After college I worked in radio for five years, then published my own weekly advertising tabloid. This lead to my first job in newspaper at The Seminole Producer, in Seminole, Oklahoma. That nine year stint turned into a 24 year career in newspapers in advertising sales, as advertising manager, and as an editor and writer. I currently work at the largest boys home in Oklahoma. Approaching my sixth year, I am their Communications Director, producing all of their printed materials, writing grants, doing news releases, a newsletter, and much more. Question: What was the first comic book you ever read? I am not sure what comic book first caught my attention. I was first hooked on comic strips, and saved Alley Oop, Superman and other strips out of my local newspaper before I was ten years old. In the '50s, I read all of the DC titles; in the '60s, I added Marvel from the beginning of their expansion. I also read ACG titles, and later wrote a book about the company called "Forbidden Adventures: The History of the American Comics Group" which is still in print and can be found at your local library (if now, ask; they will get a copy). My favorite comics writers in the '50s included Gardner Fox and John Broome. My favorite characters were Superman, Green Lantern and The Atom (Gil Kane was a terrific artist and person). Question: What were your favorite comic books growing up? My list of favorite comics would also have to include: Adventures Into the Unknown, the first runs of Spiderman, The Hulk, Daredevil, the X- Men and Fantastic Four, the Warren line of magazines: Creepy, Eerie, Vampirella. Although I didn't get to read them under first publication, I grew to love the EC line of comics. I still consider them to be the best overall line of comic books ever produced. I also grew to love Popeye and Pogo, my two favorite comic strips. Question: Can you please tell us something about your new creation called Lights End? The first Light's End story was a continuity within a comic strip I created and wrote for five years, Holiday Out. Holiday Out, in turn, was born out of an assignment from Jack & Jill Magazine to write an article on Alley Oop artist, David Graue. I wrote the article and gave Graue a story idea. He bought it. I wrote Alley Oop for awhile. When that ended, I created my own comic strip, Holiday Out, that ran in about 40 comic books, and that was, in part, republished by Renegade Comics as Holiday Out #1-3. My influences for Light's End were and are H.P. Lovecraft, William Faulkner and Ray Bradbury. Light's End is a fictional town based on a real town relocated to Maine. These short stories are interconnected, and will eventually become trilogy. But the stories are also designed to stand along as complete stories within themselves. To date, the stories span about 400 years, and are horror, fantasy (not the elfin kind), SF and mainstream tales. I am now writing the 21st story; most have been published in various magazines. When I did a book signing in April or May of 2001, I did so with the legendary actor William Windom (more than 50 movies, hundreds of TV shows including Star Trek, Twilight Zone, Barney Miller; he won an Emmy in, I believe, 1970 for his tv series "My World and Welcome To It". We hit it off, he liked my stories, and I love his work. So we decided to produced an audio tape series to sell at personal appearances. The first tape is out (all 20 Light's End stories have ALREADY been recorded by Windom), and we have also signed a contract with Plan 9 Publishing. They have also released the first tape which contains two stories: "A Change of Heart" and "Cross Purposes". I read a question in a magazine once that went something like this: "as bad as it was and is with Hitler and Stalin, and serial killers, and horrible wars, imagine hope hopeless worse it would be if there really were no God. Light's End was founded to answer that question. Question: How can someone go about purchasing Lights End? The first 12 stories or so are available in a chapbook I sell at personal appearances. These chapbooks also contain material that will never appear in a book (if and when the first Light's End book is released) including poems, maps, and photographs. You can get that autographed from me for $15 at 1427 S. Delaware Avenue, Tulsa, Oklahoma, 74104. The first Light's End tape is available from www.Plan9.org. Look under "Titles" and then "Lights End". Copies signed by Windom are also available. Question: Tell us about your other projects. Outside of Light's End stories, and my Suspended Animation review column, I am no longer working on other projects, nor do I have plans to do so. I might, if approached, write other things again, but I consider my Light's End stories my focus for the rest of my (already) 30 plus year career of writing features, comic books, comic strips, book(s), and about anything else you might mention. Question: Tell us about the history of Suspended Animation column. How long have you been doing this? Where can we find your column? To my knowledge Suspended Animation is the longest running, continuously published, WEEKLY reviews of comic strips and books around. It appears on about 60 different web sites, and has run in many print publications as well. It is 13 years old as of Jan. 2002. I created the column with comic book writer R.A. Jones because we believed that comics deserved the same respect and serious treatment as other art forms. We also believed that their were books that adults who don't read comics would enjoy if they only knew that they existed. That is why we try very hard to place in in NON-COMICS related places as well as in publications dedicated to comics. It runs in your fanzine, of course, and on the Jazma web site. I have, basically, two "home pages" who distribute the column for me. Interested folks can find it at www.starland.com and www.digitalwebbing.com. Question: Who is the other staff member that assists you with Suspended Animation? Currently, a young man named Mark Allen is writing half the columns. Question: Do you have a website and if you do what is the URL address? I do not have a website. Question: How can somebody contact you? I love to talk with folks. They can write me at Michael Vance, 1427 S. Delaware Ave., Tulsa, OK, 74104, or email me at MiklVance@Yahoo.com. They may also stop by and chew the fat with me at conventions. I am available for convention appearances, and have do so for twenty years. Question: If you were stranded on a desert island, what 3 things would you bring with you and why? The Bible. Food. Clothing. Spiritual hunger. Physical hunger. I sunburn. Question: Your thoughts on the comic industry? I am not certain that it will survive. I believe it is one of the few, real artforms created in America, and has as much potential as any other form of literature. I don't believe it has reached that potential yet. Unless comics publishers begin to publish material that adults will read, and find some way to let them know those titles exist, the industry will eventually die. Question: Your 3 favorite fictional heroes and why? Boy, that is a tough question. I just can't limit it to three. Let's try Superman, Tarzan, Sherlock Holmes. Pogo (under E.C. Segar). Popeye. Alley Oop (under V.T. Hamlin). Favorite comics artists: Ingles (EC), Wally Wood, Wayne Boring, Frank Frazetta, Alex Raymond, V.T. Hamlin, Walt Kelly, Gil Kane; the list is just too long to continue. Favorite writers: William Faulkner, Charles Dickens, Ray Bradbury, H. G. Wells, H.P. Lovecraft, Edgar Allen Poe, Victor Hugo, C. S. Lewis. Question: Here's an off-the-wall question. Have you ever experienced anything of the paranormal? If you do please explain. Yes. Jesus Christ is my savior, and, through him, I experience the ultimate and only real Paranormal (outside of angels), God. Question: Where do you want to be in 5 year? 10 years? I want to reach as many people as possible with my Light's End stories. I want to still be writing. Question: Your 3 real life heroes and why? I really have no "real life" heroes. Those that come closest: my father. Question: What cons are you going to? I will attend Trek Expo in June of this year in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I will attend any other convention that invites me and pays my expenses. Question: What movies, cartoons and TV shows are your favorites? King Kong (the original). Psycho (the original). The Alamo. Rocky and Bullwinkle. King Leonardo. The Flintstones. The Simpsons. Super Chicken. George of the Jungle. The Prisoner. All in the Family. The Twilight Zone. Currently: Everybody Loves Raymond. Question: What books do you read? I have never stopped reading; I have read tens of thousands of books, I am currently reading the collected short stories of O'Henry, the Quotable C. S. Lewis, and re-reading Light in August by Faulkner. Question: What are your hobbies and recreational activities? Writing. Question: What comic books do you read now? I read everything that is sent to me for review in Suspended Animation. That is quite a few books. I'd like to receive more. Question: That ends the interview, any last words? Not until I die. ****** Interview with: Farel Dalrymple, Creator of Pop Gun War! Interviewed by Paul Dale Roberts, Publisher - Jazma Universe Online! http://www.jazmaonline.com/ Question: Tell us something personal about yourself? Your family life, where you were born and raised, what schools you attended? Maybe some details from your resume? I am from Tulsa, Oklahoma and before that California. My family is all in Oklahoma; mother, sister, and brother in law (Stephen Gilpin, fellow Meathaus artist). I actually dropped out of high school and took some years off before attending a couple of community colleges. I moved to New York almost 6 years ago to go to the School of Visual Arts. I got a lot out my education. I studied illustration at S.V.A. but by the time I left all I really wanted to do was draw comics professionally. I have worked a variety of restaurant and retail jobs since graduating with the occasional freelance and dot COM job. Question: What was the first comic book you ever read? Hard question. I really don't know. My earliest memory of reading comics is sitting in the church bookstore my mom worked at and reading all these Christian Archie comics. I think they were all done by one guy, I think his name was Al something. He also did a lot of other Christian comics, like bible stories told in different settings. There was a science fiction version of Adam and Eve. I had a friend who was really into Rom the Spaceknight but that stuff didn't do it for me at the time. I remember a Marvel Team-Up issue with the Vision that was one of the first comics I bought. Question: What were your favorite comic books growing up? The aforementioned Marvel Team-Up. I don't know why I liked that book so much. Maybe because it was one of the first comics I bought or maybe because it sort of educated me on all the superheroes in the Marvel universe and had Spiderman in every issue. I really liked anything with Spiderman in it. The comic that got me seriously collecting comics was GI Joe. I had every issue of that until I stopped really "collecting" comics at around issue 60. I would still be buy comics, but just the ones with artists I liked. I think I was getting bored with the generic superhero story. I remember reading the Daredevil" Born Again" and being blown away by how good it was. The story was amazing as well as the art. Those few issues of Daredevil are still some of my favorite comics. I loved the Dixon and Zaffino Winterworld comic. I wish people would make comics like that now. Question: Can you please tell us something about your new creation called Pop Gun War? It is a story of Sinclair, an inner city child who finds a discarded pair of angel like wings. He puts them on and goes around the city and interacts with a lot of the strange characters that live there. Question: Tell us about the unusual characters of this comic book. There is Sinlcair and his friend Addison. Addison is a homeless guy with a good heart. He is followed around by "the Rich Kid", a sort of invisible entity that tries to torment Addison. Sinclair's sister, Emily has a rock band that plays around the city. And then there is Rachel, sort of an ambiguous mother type. There are several other characters that will come and go through out the series but those are the main ones. Question: How was Pop Gun War conceived? Just from some drawings in my sketchbook. I get ideas for scenes then I jot them down in there. When I sit down to write a story I consult my sketchbook and piece a story together. I got an idea for the opening scene of pop gun war just as a stand-alone story then it sort of evolved. Question: Do you have a website and if you do what is the URL address? Well, not my own site yet. I am working on one. Too many things to do right now. You can check out the meathaus website though. http://www.meathaus.com Question: How can somebody contact you? Through email: farelkahn@yahoo.com or regular mail Farel Dalrymple P.O. Box 2045 New York, NY 10009 Question: If you were stranded on a desert island, what 3 things would you bring with you and why? A hotel room with cable, a public library, and my girlfriend Question: Your thoughts on the comic industry? I don't know too much about it really. I know that comics don't sell as well as they used to; but maybe that isn't all bad. It seems like some really good comics are being made these days in spite of the depressed market place. The graphic novel has been getting a lot of respect form the media lately. It seems like it is a good time to be making comics. I would like to see a little more diversity though. Question: Your 3 favorite fictional heroes and why? 1. Alyosha(sp?) from the Bros. Karamozov. I admired his principles and heart. 2. Aragorn (sp?)/strider (sp?) from the Lord of the Rings. I love how courageous and larger than life Tolkien made him. 3.Charles Wallace from A Wrinkle In Time. i don't know why. he was just a cool little kid. Question: Here's an off-the-wall question. Have you ever experienced anything of the paranormal? If you do please explain. No, I don't think so. Not that I totally disregard that sort of thing. I have heard a lot of stories from my sister. Question: Where do you want to be in 5 year? 10 years? Living somewhere secluded and pretty just making art all the time. Question: Your 3 real life heroes and why? 1.Theodore Roosevelt- He was a real life superhero. 2.My friend Keith Provance- I love the way he treats his wife and children. I wan to be that kind of father someday. 3. John Goddard-"To dare is to do, to fear is to fail." One of the world's most famous explorers and adventurers. His life list was a big inspiration to me. Question: What cons are you going to? I want to go to SPX in Maryland and the MOCCA festival here in N.Y. I might be at S.P.A.C.E. in Ohio again. As far as big cons go, I might go to San Diego maybe the Wizard con in Chicago. I don't know. I would love to go to every comic convention. I would if I could afford it. Question: What movies, cartoons and TV shows are your favorites? The Orson Welles' version of the Trial is one of my favorite movies as well as Five Easy Pieces, Yojimbo, Gummo, Raising Arizona, The Third Man....those are just a few of the movies. I also really liked the new Lord of the Rings. My favorite teevee shows are The Prisoner, Monty Python's Flying Circus, and the old Twilight Zone. I used to love the old Robotech cartoons. I like anything that John Kricfalusi (sp?) does. The Ripping friends is pretty funny the few times I have seen it. Ren and Stimpy was excellent. Of Course I like Akira. I liked The Valley of the Wind (Sorry I just saw the American dubbed version. It's really called Nausica or something like that, right?). Question: What books do you read? I read all kinds. I really like Dostoievsky. "The Brothers Karamazov" is one of my favorite books. I just finished "Moby Dick". I like Melville a lot. I am about half way through "The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay" by Michael Chabon. I was a little hesitant to read it when it first came out because of how much press it is getting. But the book is great so far, a real joy to read. Question: What are your hobbies and recreational activities? I don't really have any these days. I used to play hockey but haven't done so in years. I love going to the movies when I can afford it. Sometimes I make weird movies with some of my friends. I want to eventually get enough material to have a public access show. Question: What comic books do you read now? Not too many. I am usually to broke to buy comics. I usually just read ones people give me. My friend Tomer and his brother Assaf do an excellent comic called Bipolar. My friend Brandon Graham did a 3 issue comic called Universe So Big from Radio Comics. I thought it was excellent but the last issue only saw life on-line unfortunately. There is a really cool comic being distributed by Top Shelf entitled Robot Investigator by Vincent Stall. I am a big fan of that guys stuff. I think the last comic I bought was Dan and Larry by Dave Cooper. That is a seriously good book, one of my favorites of last year. Yesterday someone showed me a copy of the new X-men book by Morrison and Quietly. I thought it was really amazing stuff. Once I get a regular paying job I will start buying comics again. There seems to be some pretty g