It's been a long time...

Here's hoping the new (and long delayed) Beastie's disc is a return to form (after a couple not so epic discs in the aughts).
If this video is any indication, hells yes it is!

Rise indeed!

OMG! Rise of the Planet of the Apes looks good!!!



Gone is the absurd Burton abomination, and here is a hard sci-fi spin more in line with 28 Days Later and the zombie apocalypse... with apes!
I always loved the Planet of the Apes movies as a kid, and perhaps what was most fascinating about them was the way they were set in reality, more than fantasy... or a fantasy born of reality. This looks to take that to the next level, with a top flight cast, and effects in tow!
Wow!
Can't wait!

IN CASE U MISSED IT... Soul Man

This.
Looks.
Awesome.

XLRender renderfarm - SOUL MAN Teaser from xlrender on Vimeo.

If not a bit much like Honey Brown, but that's the way it goes.

Dear Internet, you're silly...

The Beat linked to this webcomic, BATTLE PUG by Mike Norton, and it is indeed inspired fun that's only just begun... with talking pugs, storytelling barbarian princesses, and giant village destroying baby seals!!!

Check it out HERE

Dear Internet, you're silly...

File this one under: music/video/cool/dream/art


And file this one under: crude/fart/humor/starwars

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: publishing stuff

A couple cool links from TheComicsBeat...

First, a link to a DIY approach to digital publishing that may be a nifty idea - HERE

With an interesting alternate idea floated in the comments from digital trailblazer DJ Coffman.

As I'm grappling with a clear path forward digitally, both for my work, and my publishing output. It's clear there are any number of directions one could go, and that ultimately there should be an option, or standard, for doing it on one's own, but I also think there's a big potential in the collective space... or digital publishers. As with anything, there needs to be focal points for choosing content on the user side... something to replace the comic shops, the newsstands, etc.


Then second, we have a lengthy conversation with Joe Casey, a comic writer synonymous with creator driven work, and quite the success story - HERE

I've always been a fan of Joe's work. And while nothing of his has ever been a pure favorite, his work is interesting and exciting. And I'm very much looking forward to his and Mike Huddleston's BUTCHER BAKER (from Image).

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: the comics equivalent to the jetpack is here

Hey kids, the future of comics is now.
Print is dead.
Resistance IS futile.
I'm not fucking around.

Not only is the iPad one giant step for the digital transition of print media (i.e. landing on the moon (which happened by the way), and making, I suppose, the Kindle, and iPhone, space chimps in this analogy), but I guess Marvel Comics are part of the launch...

The only thing keeping this from being the full on tipping point, in the immediate wholesale transition to digital, is the fact that the iPad is tied to Apple's proprietary distribution model (iBooks or whatever) and higher pricing than what's previously been established for digital downloads (see Marvel's unwieldy $1.99 price point on individual digital comics).

The bean counters will cry that 1.99 per single issue download (roughly 1/6th of a trade or graphic novel) is equivalent to a music single (roughly 1/12th of an album)... but the fact is, as on Apple's eBook pricing, it's roughly double where it should be, both in terms of cost margin, and market value.

Go ahead and tell me I'm wrong, but I'll just go ahead and sell my shit for .99 cents thanks.

To be clear, I'm not saying the iPad is the actual device that will be embraced moving forward (I'm not saying it isn't either), however, what is clear to me, is that it's the first such tablet that can adequately move things significantly forward, and combined with the major comics publishing giant's participation, and the onslaught of similar devices... this train's left the station.

So, while we may not have jetpacks, make no mistake, the digital revolution just got a big ol' "all systems go", and at least, in the early part of the 21st century, we'll have comic books back in front of billions of people, instead of thousands, as a form of cheap alternative entertainment...

So yes, fanboys, welcome to the future.
Long live the medium.

Now excuse me, I've got some work to do...

For more on the breakdown of the coming revolution, I've found ComicsBulletin has a nice digital comics column by Ryan McClellan.

And for a look at the iPad running comics in the hands of 21st century comics pioneer, Otis Frampton, have a look at his Ustream review...

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Links!

Couple cool things I saw recently...

1) My buddy Ed Pun's art blog, he's got several massive posts from the recent (epic) Emerald City Comicon, giving a great feel for the show, with pics of the hall, costumes, art, and swag! Check it out HERE

ECCC was phenomenal this year, and Ed's blog is pretty darn swell in general too!

(I'll be posting my own sketches from the show here shortly!)

2) Friend of a friend and all around cool creator, Otis Frampton, is someone I've had an eye on for a while, as his art has really evolved and he's also a one man multi-media artist guru inspiration... well he recently launched a new webcomic, PLANET NOWHERE, and not surprisingly, it's VERY GOOD! Check that out HERE and see what I mean!

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Shogun Trooper!

For all you kids out there who aren't old enough to have owned a Shogun Warrior in your youth... you life must suk!

For the rest of us, this is brilliant.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: TSL adds tweet-ability

I have been MIA for a month online...
grew a beard
absconded to the coast
drank lots of booze

but I'm back!

More on all that later...

For now, just know, TSL is in the process of a long overdue update, and I have joined the dark side (Twitter) in an effort to streamline/simplify various online activities moving forward.

The good news is, you get more TSL wunderbar, with less Jason Martin hassle (yay!)!!

So, add me and all that.
(and also note the Twitter widget, on the side of the blog up top)

STAY TUNED

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?

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Haven Distribution's COMICS! catalog

For all you comic book fiends out there, just want to spread the word... Diamond is cool and all that, but Haven Distribution is an alternative distributor that now has a new catalog that offers independent comics as an option to just Diamond via comic book shops.

The first issue of the new catalog, Comics!, came out recently, and you may be able to see one via your local shop, or order one, but they're also available via the Haven website, either as a free download/online or order your own print copy.
Check it out HERE

There is a lot of really cool stuff in there that you either miss via Diamond, or isn't offered by them at all... and because of that, there's a lot of oddball stuff in there too (like my stuff, lol), but if you're a fan of books outside the big publishers, you need to check this out!

I'm saying this as a fan of comics, not as a sales pitch.
Sure my stuff is listed in it, but so could yours, and that's what's cool. It's a level playing field, and a way to check out a much wider selection of books.
Sure, it's cool to see the latest and greatest professionally polished corporate offerings, but we all know the underground, the alternative, is where the really exciting and cool stuff can happen!

Check it out... NOW!!!
(And spread the word!!!)

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: indy comics advice

A couple articles recently from around the comics web, for aspiring (and acting) publishers (because you can never get enough advice and help)...

1) Some solid gold advice to aspiring (or current) comic book publishers from Ken Marcus, creator of Super Human Resources from Ape Entertainment, on ComicBookResources.com Robot6 blog HERE

2) Jen Contino, editor of comic news site The Pulse, with independent publisher tips HERE

Kind of basic stuff, but ya never know if there are any gems of advice one hasn't thought of before...

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Hell's Angels

Over on Twitch, their weekly International Eye Candy column on AICN features a cool upcoming anime...
Check it out!

IN CASE U MISSED IT: interview on Comicon.com/PULSE

With the new SRG Presents book on the horizon, I caught up with Jen Contino from Comicon.com The Pulse, and did an interview covering my publishing from Super Real to SRG Presents, and the future ("The future Conan?")!!

Check it out HERE dear readers!

Thanks again to Jen for the hospitality!

IN CASE U MISSED IT: Xomix Comix

IN CASE U MISSED IT: Cool stuff!

If in your poking around the infinite sprawl of interwebs you haven't glimpsed some of the artist blogs giving peeks at upcoming new projects, then perhaps I can help...

My good buddy Javier Hernandez will up here in Portland for the April 26-27th Stumptown Comics Fest, and he'll have a new creation in tow... Known for his indy comic turned indy movie, El Muerto the Aztec Zombie, Jav's got a new character of equal creatively blended intrigue, the forthcoming Demolition Dove!
Demo Dove looks to be a perfect blending of the pop culture zeitgeist, grindhouse/pulp inspired concepts (a concoction I'm currently brewing myself), with a timely reflection of American politics. Now politics is the great divider, but it seems the Jav-Man is savvy enough to know this, and appears to be approaching them from a higher level non-partisan view. We shall see. Either way, I, and many others are intrigued about this new creation.

You can check out more on Demolition Dove at Javier's blog HERE

Then over at Josh Howard's blog, he's put up a tease of his upcoming work (following his popular ongoing runs of Dead@17, as well as other creations like Black Harvest, or Lost Books of Eve), T-Bird and Throttle. While not much has been revealed yet, the book does look to be Josh's first efforts in a more superpowered direction (and maybe even blending in some of his love of the Transformers franchise?)... As with anything he does, I can't wait to check it out!

There's something so special, and inherently wholly unique from seeing new creator owned works brought to life as comics, so I can't help but share in my excitement!

And if you know of any upcoming creator owned works being teased out there that have you excited, be sure and let me know!

IN CASE U MISSED IT: James Jean trip out

This was featured over on The Beat (you're reading The Beat right?) and I couldn't resist... It's a simply sublime animation/advertising effort from James Jean's concept art...


Prada Animation - Trembled Blossoms from kwest on Vimeo.

IN CASE U MISSED IT: Crush Linking

It's Valentines Day, so thought I'd link to a few points of interest out there I'm crushing on right now...
A couple good write ups on the late great Steve Gerber:
THE BEAT
PERMANENT DAMAGE

A new column on BrokenFrontier.com looking at publishing/creating/starting out in comics, with the first installment on about the different options to take a book:
Delusions of Grandeur
This one looks worth following, either if you think about going this route, or wonder what's involved.

There looks like a cool new pulp inspired book, stocked to the gills with talented industry creators coming soon, as previewed in this weeks Lying In The Gutters:
Five Color Comics

And last but not least, potentially good news for Flash Gordon fans, a new publishing upstart, Ardden Entertainment, co-helmed by Rich Emms formerly of Markosia and AP Comics, has obtained a license to produce new comics based on the property, that look to take inspiration for the serials, with their own spin on it:
Newsarama feature
We'll see, we all know how the SCI-FI TV series turned out... It does look like they might have something in time for New York Comic Con, so cool! I'll be there, and will check it out!!
Here's hoping!!!

And then of course, the news that the new Clone Wars CG animated TV show will bow in movie theaters this August!!!

IN CASE U MISSED IT: Wizard Texas panels I wish I saw

Interesting con wrap up on Blog@Newsarama for this past weekends Wizard World Texas. I had a few friends at the show, a couple for the first time, so I'm anxious to here how they did, and their take on it (it's the only Wizard show I haven't done, and I'm not too impressed with their other shows).

Mainly of note, are some panel roundups...
One with the actress Laura Vandervoort from Smallville who plays Supergirl... something about her, and that role (I really like the character Supergirl), she seems like the perfect fit (almost makes me want to watch the show for the first time since it's series debut)... I also would put her on the short list to star in the movie version of Super Real!

But even better, there were some cool notes/quotes from the Michael Golden comics storytelling panel! Yowza!! To have attended that!!
Mr. Golden is my favorite all time comic artist (I picked up Micronauts #7 off the spinner rack all those years ago, and he did the first 12 issue run there plus many covers, as well as covers on another childhood favorite, ROM Spaceknight, and a single issue of Star Wars that was my favorite of that lengthy run!), and the only creator I geeked out and went fanboy on, waiting at his table to get signatures at this years Emerald City Comic Con!!

Pop on over and check it out HERE