IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: RoboGeisha

From the director of MACHINE GIRL and the effects specialist of TOKYO GORE POLICE (if you don't know one or both of those movies, shame on you, go rectify that) comes the trailer everyone is talking about... ROBOGEISHA!!
What?
That's not the AVATAR trailer AVATAR everyone AVATAR is AVATAR talking about?

SUPER REAL NOTES: CBR interview and GN update!

Been slammed beyond infinity, and someone forwarded me a link to this, but have not gotten to posting it around...

I did an interview for Comic Book Resources a while back, and they ran it last week HERE

It's centered around Super Real, and the Graphic Novel, and it touches on other stuff too, but mainly I shoot straight about what's what with the book, and how it got to where it's at, format and schedule wise...
It's reformatted in a funky quote laden expose of sorts, and has a couple wonky facts (mainly A) the final issue is being published digitally via SRG and in print via Haven, and B) SRG has always been the publishing company, but only started offering other products, outside Super Real, in 2008), but is a good summary of where we're at with the book and what's to come!
And yes, the book is late.
I scheduled it for July with the hopes of having it for the big cons, but it was too much to finish for that, and got further delayed when I had to drop it for weeks doing the shows, but it's back on track and nearing completion.

It (the graphic novel) will be out in September (along with the final issue), and Diamond will have it out to shops per the original terms and all that. No worries.
It is indeed coming, and SOON!
I promise :)

From there it's over to launch Pulp Girls
Plus there's other exciting stuff moving forward too!!!

STAY TUNED
Lots of cool stuff coming VERY SOON!!!

Meanwhile at the Movies... G.I. JOE... Now I know...

and it's kind of an okay flick.

Mindless? Sure.
Fun? Sort of.
Terrible? Mostly not.
Cool? Sort of.

As the buzz has been, it's nowhere near as horrible as we feared (but that's not saying alot).
The do-hickey suits aren't as bad as they looked, and there's a lot of really decent stuff in play... and yeah, plenty of cheese, and lame casting, performances, and spins on things... but mostly it's an enjoyable romp for 13 year old boys, and those that can throw down with that level of entertainment.
So, me :D

The main offense here is Snake Eyes.
Mis-cast as Ray Park, who has the chops, but a terrible build for the part, Snake looks way too short and stocky, and not very ninja like.
Of course, his god awful suit design doesn't help anything... what the hell is with the Schumacher-style muscle-sculpted torso, with generic JCPenny cargo pants?!?!
To say nothing of those LIPS!!!
My god man, WTF?!?!
Lips?!?
Look, I knew they were coming going in, but they're so much worse than you'd ever think... like Steven Tyler/Easter Island ginormous LIPS?!?!
It's too bad, he's by far the coolest character, and he's woefully mismanaged here.
He looks like a fucking guy in a ninja turtle suit!!! No joke!

In other bad casting news, Channing Tatum can't act his way out of a paper bag, at least in this movie. I've not seen much with him in it, but I got the impression the kid was supposed to be good, and I've nothing against him, he sure looks the part, but man, he was bad, just flat, lifeless, and did I mention BAD?!?

Completing the axis of evil casting? We have Dennis Quaid.
Love the guy, but wow, just a horrible choice for Hawk.
He must be friends with the director, Stephen Sommers.
Because he sure doesn't work here.

And as bad as they all were, the casting is otherwise really good.
Sienna Miller is strong as the Baroness.
Joseph Gordon is solid as what becomes Cobra Commander, in spite of what seemed an odd choice (the kid is just good).
Destro's good, Storm Shadow's good, Scarlett's really good, Mr. Echo... I mean Heavy Duty, even Marlon Wayans is really good with what he's given.

It is odd that the story centers around a pre-Cobra setup, and that so much of what worked so well with the "real American hero" toy line, is not in play, or reworked. The characters and designs at play for that were so ahead of their time, they really didn't need to shy away from most of it.
Hopefully, if we get a sequel, that will all be in more play.

And why, why on Earth, when you've got a classic piece of iconic music, like the theme from the cartoon, is it nowhere to be found?!?!
Especially when there's no score to speak of?!?!
Why do studios keep ignoring the music??!!
The score can take a decent movie, and elevate it.
For god's sake, where was the music?!?
That's half the fucking battle you twits, not ham fisting the tag lines into self-referential in-joke bullshit dialogue!!!!??!!
Fuck!

Then there's the direction of the story, more espionage than battle, again, which we knew going in, with the "global team" focus, and it mostly works, but then at the end we get a 50,000 leagues under the sea/Phantom Menace Gungan city battle, and it's supposed to play like a mix of Battlestar Galactica, and Star Wars, but it really just looks silly and has no real punch.

Then, there's the limited scope of the Joe cast of characters.
We only really get a sense of their scale in an early montage, and otherwise follow a half dozen or so main characters throughout, with generic soldiers filling in the background.
Lame.

So, despite all of my many grievances, I still rather enjoyed the movie, and think it was, in spite of being another watered-down Hollywood botch job, a mostly fun flick, that I'd be happy to watch again. It does get some of it right, and contain some of the vibe we all loved so much with the toys, comics, and cartoons. Some tweaking to Snake Eyes, soul infusion for Tatum, and embracing of the source material, and the franchise could be a winner.

RECOMMENDED (for Joe fans)
MILDLY RECOMMENDED (for non-Joes)

Wizard World Chicago Comic-Con this weekend

I'll be in Chicago (Rosemont, IL) all weekend for the big comic show, formerly Wizard World Chicago, now called Chicago Comic-Con.

The show starts Thursday 8/6, for preview night, and runs through Sunday 8/9.

I'll be exhibiting in artist alley, space 4228.

I'll have the new Pulp Girls convention books (limited to 250 copies, and going going), the Pulp Girls limited silk screen print (limited to 150 copies), Super Real comics, SRG Presents Gnome and Wolves of Odin books, fan art prints, sketchbooks, and more!
Of course I'll have and be doing sketches.
Also, I'll have copies of my buddy Dan Mendoza's Comic-Con sellout, ZOMBIE TRAMP, in a new "SR DISTRO" printing (SR Distro is a new direct sales distribution model I might try out)!!!

Lots of cool stuff!

Can't wait for the show, and to see all the cool friends, fans, and comic book fiends!

I may even get to check out Chi-town a bit on Monday before my flight (fun fact, I was born in East Chicago) ;)
and of course deep dish pizza, and White Castles are on my to-do list (along with maybe seeing some family).

Phew, I'm worn out just thinking about it!

See ya there!

Here's a couple pre-done sketches I'll have at the show and a sample of the Pulp Girls convention book sketch page (and sketch):