SUPER REAL NOTES - Pin ups

Thought I'd share a couple recent pin ups for Super Real I'd received...

The first is a new pin up from Boo, a friend of mine from DeviantArt who's also one of my collaborators on a top secret (and very exciting) project I'm working up... hopefully more details on this soon!

In the meantime, this is his pin up of Holly.
I'm going to go ahead and color it and post it on my DeviantArt page soon...

You can check out more of Boo's cool work at his website UnpleasentDreams.co.uk


Next is a pin up from Bryan Turner, artist on Identity Comics Return of the Way.
Most of the Identity Comics crew was at the Wizard World Philly con, and I checked out some of their cool books (which I'll be featuring here soon). Bryan was cool enough to get me this sketch of holly, just for checkin out the books!

Thanks again Bryan!

Check out Bryan's book, Return of the Way at the ID comics website HERE

IN CASE U MISSED IT: Dead@17 ongoing preview...

I'm a big Josh Howard, and Dead@17 fan (he did a cover for Super Real 1 people, come on!)... his latest comic book venture, the upcoming August Dead@17 ongoing series has a new website and it features the Free Comic Book Day preview of the series (which can be found HERE).

Check it out, it's a great series of splash pages recapping the mini series and building up to the ongoing!
WOW! COOL!!

The Super Real issue 3 variant cover colors "You decide!" Contest!!

It's day two of our TSL contest for a free copy of the current Super Real sketchbook (with sketch!), so don't forget all you have to do is pop over to this thread and leave your pick of the two cover treatments!

Speaking of, here they are, all mocked up...

COMICS REVIEW: Backlog

Even though I'm behind schedule on my book, it was time this past weekend to get away for some much needed R&R, camping in the great Northwest... Aside from relaxing in the outdoors and the usual fair, one of the things I look forward to most about camping, is reading, comics, lots of them.

Even though I keep cutting titles and scaling back, with little time to actually sit around and read them, I still end up with tons of comics that pile up, week in and week out. Thus the camping reading material is not only a way for me to relax, it's a way to get caught up in my "industry research"!

This weekend I plowed through 45 books! Not single issues, but runs of titles, from recent months. The following is my quick take on what I read:

UNCANNY X-MEN 470-473 - The end of one short arc, the start of another, with 3 solid artists, and some suprisingly fun and enjoyable Claremont writing. Bedard scripting Claremonts plots works well for me.
MILDLY RECOMMENDED

ULTIMATE X-MEN 69-70 - I was excited for Kirkman's run on the title, hoping for more pizzaz than the also anticipated, but underwhelming Vaughn run... but it's actually become even more mundane. The Oliver art, while accomplished, doesn't help the plotting at all. This is the X-Men reimagined? X-Levi-Men, or Genereric-X is more like it... blah. Hurry up and get better or the title that used to be one of my faves is history for me...
NOT RECOMMENDED

BOMB QUEEN 2-4 - Great book. Love it! Over the top, mature, and nasty. But also a great 4 issue storyline and interesting concept. GOOD BOOK!
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

MIDDLE-MAN 2.1-2.4 - Hey, look! There's a Super Real ad in issue one! I feel honored to be associated with such a great book. I really liked the first volume, the writing, the art, the characters, but I found the story lacking. Volume two is soooo much better than the first!! GREAT BOOK!
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

STRANGE GIRL 3-8 - After reading the first 2 issues I was on the fence... I loved the concept and the art, but it just wasn't paying off for me. Coming in knowing what the book was about left the intro to the book cold, but once things get moving story wise, this book is great! I also enjoy that it tackles themes and issues that are big and outside the norm, while telling an entertaining post apocalyptic survival tale! GREAT BOOK!
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

CYBER FORCE 1-3 - I love team super hero books, so I give most of them a shot at some point. This is really bad though. Really bad. No thanks.
NOT RECOMMENDED

SUPERGIRL 1-6 - Loeb can be fun, and I like books that feature the ladies. I really enjoyed this. Nothing too special, but great classic super hero comic book fun.
I'm not sure at all about the new ONE YEAR LATER direction though...
RECOMMENDED

ULTIMATE EXTINCTION 3-5 - Peterson's art is impressive, while still a bit stiff, I love the new graphic touches he's using. This one was a page turner, but a bit anit-climatic (especially for a 3 series story).
MILDLY RECOMMENDED

WILDCATS NEMESIS 2-9 - I like Talent Caldwell's art, and I love Wildstorm, so this was an easy sell. The book itself, not so much... it's actually two artists, Caldwell and Domingues, alternating plotlines, with Caldwell only doing the present storyline, not the flashbacks. At first the flashbacks are important to the story, but as we go along, they are pure fluff (and really hard to believe/swallow). This really should've been a 5 to 6 issue story (maybe even 4), not the odd 9 issue run it was.
NOT RECOMMENDED

ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN 91-94 - This, for me, is Bendis's best book, nothing else he does comes close (except perhaps Powers, but I gave that up years ago). Ultimate Spidey is just as wisecracking as the regular Marvel U version, but in this book, he's actually funny! Bendis continues to weave the best continuity based title going, with each arc entertaining, while building on the past. Also, in this run he plays with the Ultimate X-Men, who are much more in continuity here, than they've been in their book in years!
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

That's it, some mostly great stuff, and stuff I haven't got to talk up on the blog cause I'm so far behind.
Books on the edge, outside the norm you should check out if you haven't, like:
STRANGE GIRL
BOMB QUEEN
and MIDDLE MAN
Really good stuff!

So, tomorrow, the breaks over (well, it was today, getting caught up on the email etc), and it's back at it double time!!

SUPER REAL NOTES - Interview!

While at the recent Wizard World Philadelphia, I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Stephanie Mangold of SilverBulletComics.com.

The interview has just gone up and can be found HERE

We talk a good bit about the book, and Stephanie even works in some questions I haven't fielded before! The interview was actually done live/recorded, so the transcription gets a bit rough in some spots, but it's a solid read for any Super Real fan!

Thanks again to Stephanie and SilverBulletComics.com!

SUPER REAL NOTES - 6/12 CONTEST!!

Hello all,

Sorry for the blog silence... I was away for a 3 day camping excursion amidst the fir trees and lakes of fabulous Mt. Hood - having that the weekend following a 3 day con trek to Philly makes me kind of behind.
But no worries there! Hopefully I've hashed out a new battle plan for the book that is falling into place nicely... more on that as it is finalized!
The bottom line is, I have just enought time in my schedule to finish number 3, and still get it some extra attention, hopefully!

Also, the top secret Super Real project I'm working up is moving along nicely, and should also be ready for public knowledge soon!!
It's very cool, and very exciting!! And just what every Super Real fan is crying for!!!

Thought I'd pop in real quick and share some of the art that was waiting for me in my inbox upon my return this afternoon (at least the one I CAN share)...

Below you'll see the Hector Sevilla 1 in 4 variant cover to issue 3, colored up by Eve from DeviantArt.com:
As you can see, there are two versions - one with pants, and one without!! (Click the pic for a larger view)
Here's what I want you loyal, but sometimes not too vocal TSL readers to do - Leave me a comment as to which version you prefer (I'm a generally indecisive guy, and with artwork variations, you tend to find reasons to like all of them), so I have my favorite, but I thought I'd see what you all thought.

Here's the thing, I've also been wanting to do another contest... so this is it!
Everyone who comments with their choice of the two, gets a shot at a free copy of my latest sketchbook, with a sketch of your choice included, FREE!!
All you have to do is help me decide wich version is best for the cover of issue 3.
The book has to go to press soon, so let's keep this open through Friday 6/16, at that point I'll put all the names in one of my Super Real caps, and select the lucky winner!

The Super Real issue 3 variant cover colors - "You decide!" Contest!!
Go for it!

STAY TUNED,
jason

HEY DJ! - She Wants it online...

Local alternative station 94/7FM has been offering a series of live music snippets for site subscribers (that can be shared), and the latest is from SHE WANTS REVENGE.
I recently picked up the SWR disc and enjoy it...

Follow this LINK for some exclusive live tracks!

They expire on Monday.

DeviantArt update - Issue 3 page 9

For all those out there anxiously awaiting the third issue of Super Real (like me!), here's another page of artwork I recently uploaded to DeviantArt.com.

This is page number 9, featuring Kityana, and Shana enhanced!

I leave out the text and script, so as not to spoil the book!
You can view the page at full size on DA HERE (or click the pic)

STAY TUNED,
jason

IN CASE U MISSED IT: Marketing time!

Newsarama's got a pretty cool new column on comic book marketing, SEQUENTIAL SMARTS, aimed at the self publisher.

The cool thing is, unlike most comic news site columns, this ones really professional, with some genuinely informed data to help everyone out!

Check it out HERE

IN CASE U MISSED IT: Speaking of Felipe...

The man is crazy.
After finishing up his cover for Super Real, while working on a poster promotion for MBQ (featuring 100 real life fans of the book), he went and did this...

LINK

A 14 page promotional comic...
Damn!
Ha ha ha!!

MBQ!!!

SUPER REAL NOTES - 6/6 Issue 3 variant cover

I still need to verify with my Diamond rep if it's okay, but here's the potential 3rd variant for the soon coming issue 3.

It's by the creator of the best OEL manga, and one of the hottest new talents in comics in general if you ask me (go on ask me), Felipe Smith! Felipe does the incredibly raw true to life book MBQ for Tokyopop, when he's not turnin out smokin variant covers for me!

The plan is to include this cover as the second 1 in 4 variant for the third issue. That would be a ratio of 2 of my regular cover to 1 of the Hecot Sevilla and 1 of the Felipe Smith...

I'm also hoping to have some potential new colors for the Hector cover shortly...
STAY TUNED

SUPER REAL NOTES: Wizard World Philly UPDATED

Now updated with pics!

I'm still recovering from another long, travel, con weekend, so sorry for the lack of updates...

On top of that, I'm really behind on production of the book, so I'll keep things brief... (oops, that didn't happen)

This was my first time out to the Wizard World Philadelphia convention, and I was impressed all around.
From the size and attendance of the show, to the wealth of stellar artist alley talent, the crazy cool neighbors, and the general location of the convention hall.

One of the main problems with most big cons are that the convention centers are located away from any kind of necessary amenities required by travelers, like affordable restaurants and shopping. Not the case at the Pennsylvania Convention Center as it is adjacent to a large market that's home to dozens of produce and fresh food sellers, as well as restaurants of all variety. I did find out however, the only drawback here was that the market closed at 6pm (same time the con closed) and on Sundays.
You can't win them all.
Otherwise, most hotels and downtown attractions were all concentrated directly around the hall. Wow, that's nice.

I flew in on the Thursday night/Friday AM red eye direct from PDX to Philadelphia, at just around 5 hours, catching some pretty good sleep en route. I arrived at Philly just before 7AM EST, which is 4AM PST, my time... so ya know jet lag is not gonna be avoided when doing that kind of time warp... any way, since it was relatively early, I had no problem catching a shuttle once I figured out how to.
TIP: Here's something I've learned recently, you can take a moderately priced shuttle bus from just about any airport to downtown area attractions for a fraction of the cost of a cab, or rental of course. Usually only having to pay 8 to 10 dinero plus tip.
So got that done and went straight to the convention hall by 8AM (in LA I made the mistake of going to my hotel first, expecting it to be accross the street, to only find out it was several blocks away). Now I thought the hall opened to exhibitors at 9AM and I'd have to wait, but I turns out it was 8 and I went straight in and was able to get set up by the time the show opened at 10 no problem. Even making a trip out for a real sit down breakfast at the aforementioned market across the street!

As for the show, and the rest of the trip, it was a blur...

I had some great neighbors, a local t-shirt designer/aspiring inker/indy publisher/comic shop employee, JD on one side, and Michigan pin-up artist TC Cor on the other. Both stand up guys with cool and friendly friends and significant o's... for JD's crew, that's good, cuz I only had a 4' artist alley space, and therefore split the other 4' of a table with him.
He had these really cool "Don't make me choke a bitch" Darth Vader shirts, and "Zod Posse" among others. He needs to update his website some more, but it is PunchThroat.com
There you should find mini comics, indy anthologies and cool silk screened shirts shortly!
He even inked up a sketch of mine on the spot (see sidebar)! His inking portfolio looked top notch to me, so I'd be surprised if he's not working in the industry post haste!!
As for the previously mentioned wealth of artist alley talent to be found, watch for some CON SWAG updates coming soon highlighting some of those...
I also had the good fortune of being interviewed for SilverBulletComics.com live on Friday AM, so you should see a review for issues 1 and 2 of the book and the interview in Stephanie Mangold's HEY SUPERGIRL column up on there soon as well.

I got to meet many folks in person for the first time, or others in genral... such as Jamar Nicholas, creator of the Detective Boogaloo, Hip-Hop Cop webcomic, the crew from Fenickx, some friends from MySpace, my print rep from Regent Publishing, former Marvel Comics editor and kickin creator C.B. Cebulski, BrokenFrontier.com creative director and Super Real advertiser Frederik Hautain (all the way from Belgium I might add!), Super Real reviewer and PaperBackReader.com columnist Dan Head, the crew from IndyComicReview.com (who also review and enjoy Super Real), and many more!

Other than that it was the usual bevy of awesome folks checking out the book, getting sketchbooks or sketches, and stopping by to say hey and get their books signed... speaking of, this con was by far the worst occurrence of mistaken identity for me yet, I had several folks looking for me throughout the weekend expecting to get their Jason Martin "the inker" comics signed... Yes, I'm a Jason, we are legion, but Jason Martin's are rather frequent too, and well, I'm not that Jason Martin. Wish I'd inked Joe Mad, Adam Warren and others, but alas, I haven't.
When I plotted my course into self-publishing, I was hoping this wouldn't be a problem, but more and more it is. It's not fun dissapointing folks all weekend long when they realize they've got the wrong dude... I mean, I know it's not for them, cause it's generally written all over their face, like it's my fault.
I might have to do something crazy like adopt my email name or throw in an exclamation point, or as someone else has taken to doing, calling myself "the" Jason Martin. Let me know what you think about that!

So, let me finish by saying it was a great show, not as good sales wise as LA for whatever reason, but still good in that regard, but overall, the con, the people, the city, the coordination, was great. A huge thanks to everyone I met and picked up stuff from me over the weekend!!
THANKS!!

I went straight from sketching past the show close of 5PM to the shuttle and 8:30 flight to PDX and the drive home by 12:30AM Tuesday PST. Monday, I was a bit zombie-ish till noon and then was back on track. Another marathon completed successfully!!

Now stay tuned for those CON SWAG updates, hopefully soon...
jason

DeviantArt update - Issue 3 page 8

For all those out there anxiously awaiting the third issue of Super Real (like me!), I've neglected to link to the pages of artwork as I've uploaded them to DeviantArt.com lately.

So this week, I'll add a page a day...

Today we have page 8!

This is Mike's first enhancement sequence!

I leave out the text and script, so as not to spoil the book!
You can view the page at full size on DA HERE

STAY TUNED,
jason

DeviantArt update - Issue 3 page 6 & 7

For all those out there anxiously awaiting the third issue of Super Real (like me!), I've neglected to link to the pages of artwork as I've uploaded them to DeviantArt.com lately.

So this week, I'll add a page a day...

This is page 6 and 7, a 2 page spread.

It's our first look at the Action Arena, where our participants show off their genetic enhancements for the show!

I leave out the text and script, so as not to spoil the book!
You can view the page at full size on DA HERE

STAY TUNED,
jason

HEY DJ! - May playlist vol.2

It was a huge month for new music, so I'm back for one more round of the playlist...

NEW DISCS
SHE WANTS REVENGE - At first listen this was underwhelming, but it's growing on me considerably... (not a new release)
RECOMMENDED

GNARLS BARKLEY - ST. ELSEWHERE - A bit manic, and surely nothing nearly as impressive as the popular track CRAZY to be found on the album, but still solid.
MILDLY RECOMMENDED

RACONTEURS - BROKEN BOY SOLDIERS - Perhaps the most balanced Jack White (White Stripes) album yet.
RECOMMENDED


RED HOT CHILLI PEPPERS - STADIUM ARCADIUM - This one seems to suffer from vanilla production, but is surprisingly solid for a 28 track double disc.
MILDLY RECOMMENDED

OLD STUFF
GOLDFRAPP - Black Cherry
RADIOHEAD - OK Computer
LONG BEACH DUB ALLSTARS - Right Back
GORILLAZ - G Sides
GORILLAZ - Spacemonkeyz versus Gorillaz
GREEN VELVET
GUS GUS - Gus Gus vs T-World
GUS GUS - Attention
NINE INCH NAILS - Every Day Is Exactly the Same EP
THE DEAD 60'S
THE WHITE STRIPES - Get Behind Me Satan
BECK - Guero

DeviantArt update - Issue 3 page 5

For all those out there anxiously awaiting the third issue of Super Real (like me!), I've neglected to link to the pages of artwork as I've uploaded them to DeviantArt.com lately.

So this week, I'll add a page a day...

This is the reworked page 5.

It's our first enhancement sequence, with Holly (aka participant number 1).

I leave out the text and script, so as not to spoil the book!
You can view the page at full size on DA HERE

STAY TUNED,
jason

MEANWHILE AT THE MOVIES... Ratner VS Howard

Memorial Day weekend in Porltand Oregon = RAIN!!!
So what's to do = MOVIES!!

We did a double feature Saturday at the local megaplex, our first movie at the theater since King Kong I think...
First we took in X-Men: The Last Stand - my pick
Then we saw The Da Vinci Code - my wife's pick

They were both good, but I naturally enjoyed X-Men more.

I thought overall, X3 may have been the best of the series, from an excitement standpoint, but it was lacking in the emotion and care of the previous Singer outings. However, as a third in the series, I think dropping the character driven elements is fine.

As with most comic book movies I'm conflicted though. As much as I enjoyed the movie, and thought a lot of it worked, there were many elements that dissapointed a bit...
SPOILER WARNING
Mainly, as much as the Phoenix storyline was fun to see, I'd rather it was more focused or true to the source in some regard. Not so much specific plot points, but the overall arc of the character from the comics would've been nice to see.
Also, like many others, I thought showing the Sentinels as a Danger Room sequence, with only a severed robo-head visible, while also fun, was really cheap. Not having the Danger Room in the previous films was a terrible mis-step, but to compound the sequence with a Days of Future Past scenario, and Sentinels, was a huge waste.
As with The Dark Phoenix saga, these were elements that desrve more than the brief lip service they're given...

So, if we were really only going to ever get this one last X-Men film, okay, they gave us everything, and a fun watch at that, but if there will be more movies... and based on the record box office, who doesn't think there will?... they wasted a ton of source material.

As for Da Vinci, it was good (I haven't read the book), but not something you need to see on the big screen.

The winner?
X-Men: The Last Stand

It's a lot of fun, just keep your comics knowledge on check and enjoy it for what it is!

MEANWHILE AT THE MOVIES... it's coming!

Not sure if it will be good or bad, but I'll be checkin it out.
I've heard it's a departure from the Singer films (natch, since it's helmed by new director Ratner), but as much as I like the quiet, character driven first two films, I always thought they needed some more pizzaz.
X2 for instance was unanimously helmed as far superior to 1, but I found it the other way around.
I also didn't like how both films relied on hokey overpowered set driven Hollywood-style finales (which is unfortunately par for the course on super hero flicks). The previews of X3 make it seem as if we're due for more of the same in that department (and more bad hair for Halle Berry and crew), but I'm down for a different take on the franchise.

We'll see!

SUPER REAL NOTES - Indy-Pendant Review

Just found another recent review for the book, this time issue 2 is reviewed over on Brant Fowler's ComicAvalanche.com column, Indy-Pendant.
Actually, you should check out the column if you dig on smaller press books, because Brant does a good job of reviewing things that are either back catalog from Diamond, or better yet, from the wide selection of stuff not distributed by them, week in and week out. It's good stuff!

For the Super Real issue 2 review, and to check out the column, go HERE

MEANWHILE AT THE MOVIES... El Muerto?

My good buddy, and comic creator, Javier Hernandez recently took that long strange trip from comic book to movie, when his book EL MUERTO was turned into an independent feature film starring Wilmer Valderrama (That 70's Show, Yo Momma).

After making it's public debut with an advanced trailer at last year's SDCC, the finished film is being shown at Cannes, and the teaser trailer is now up online HERE

Check it out, the next big comic book movie from me to you! (That is until the eventual SUPER REAL motion picture of course! :)

SUPER REAL NOTES - First print review!

The long running trade magazine (formerly newspaper), COMIC BUYERS GUIDE, has featured Super Real number 1 in their Tour of the Indies review section in the recent August issue number 1619!

Each issue features tons of comic book reviews, and Super Real's first issue was reviewed in the Indie section, on page 75 of the current issue!

The review was positive, and the book received 2 and 1/2 stars!

This is the first time (to my knowledge) that the book has been reviewed in print!
Click the pic for the review!

SUPER REAL NOTES - Attack of the Cons!

Yep, after a bit of a lull, con season picks up again for me now...

This weekend, Sunday May 21st, I'll be a guest at the 3rd annual Eugene Comic Book Show in Eugene Oregon.
It's a smaller show, but the attendence sales go to charity, and I had fun the first year (didn't make it last year). Comic Book Trivia - Eugene is actually home to comic book superstar artist/creator (and personal fave) Mike Allred!

Only two weeks from today is Wizard World Philadelphia!!
That's right, I haven't talked much about it, but I recently signed up for my first ever East Coast show!!! I'll be making the red eye overnight trek to the land of the Liberty Bell arriving the AM of June 2nd, to throw down some Super Real, Philly-style! Not only will I have issues 1 and 2, and be doing sketches in the artist alley, I'll also debut the all new Super Real 2006 sketchbook volume 2!
All but 2 of the 50 copy first volume have sold, so I needed another book for the rest of con season, so I did up a mostly new volume (also with some of the best from volume 1 and 2005)!!
It of course will be available from the website too, and you can even preorder now if you like, the books will be 25 oversized b&w pages of pencil artwork for $15 ($20 with priority shipping), and also include some guest art from the recent pin up contest and even an unused Jim Mahfood cover art!! Woo hoo!
I think this is the best sketchbook yet!

For you creator types out there, the sketchbooks are printed up by the fine folks at Blue Line Pro Graphix, and I highly recommened their printing services, as they've always been top notch all around! Check out their printing info HERE

And of course the big one, the best event of the comic book year, San Diego Comic Con is only 2 months away!!

STAY TUNED,
jason

I SAW IT ON TV: 50 million people can't be wrong!

Last night was big for TV, it's the end of the season for most everything, and some of my favorite reality shows are finishing up.

Sunday was the fun finale to Survivor, with Terry the dominator getting screwed out of his million by the flip flopping Danielle (though, to be honest, she had the unenviable position of being the decider on who got to be in the final two, and the fact that she did indeed renig her word on Terry, who would've won handily, has to be some heavy guilt trip since she lost handily to Aras anyway)...

Any way, last night we had 3 primo shows competing all in the same 9-10 o'clock block

First was the Amazing Race finale, the show I chose to watch, since it ran 2 hours and everything else 1.
Those lovable hippies won... TTOW indeed!!
Loved that it came down to brains, where so much of the emphasis of the show is on strength and luck, it was nice to see a competition that gave a team an actual edge.
Gotta say, I really enjoyed my first watch of this show, it was really entertaining!

The second show was Lost, and since we have our new DVR, we decided to record this one, even though the last couple weeks have been really great... What's up with Michael? And you gotta love Mr Echo and the new hatch...

The final show of course was AI, American Idol.
It was a results show, and we never watch those (mainly cuz they're always on the same time as LOST or something else). Turns out over 50 million voted and the numbers were a virtual dead heat, the end result however, was still what everyone expected, Elliot Yamin got the hook. He was, I thought, the best singer, but no surprise as he didn't have much else goin for him.

Now it's down to Taylor and Katharine, the goof vs the girl. Perhaps the producers can have a surprise twist ending and make them compete challenge-style to keep things really interesting. I suspect though, there'll just be lots of singing... with Katharine belting out her odd rendition of Somewhere Over the Rainbow in victory, while Taylor makes that trademark heavy-browed stern/confused look of his.

Yes that's right folks, TSL is predicting McPhee-vor will grip the nation!!

IN CASE U MISSED IT: Free Pilgrim!

Since I did an appearance at my local shop for Free Comic Book Day, I was fortunate enough to snag a copy of the Oni Press Scott Pilgrim FCBD offering. However, being that the shop I was at, Things From Another World, is one of the top 100 Diamond accounts, and they only had a couple copies when the shop opened, I imagine this one was a bit hard to come by.

Problem solved, now Oni and NEWSARAMA have made the whole thing free online HERE

I haven't read it yet myself, so now I feel like a complete goombah for snagging one away from a potential newb, but I loves me some Scott Pilgrim!
You should too (so we can be SP buds)!!
If you haven't checked this book out yet, now's your chance! No excuses mister (or misses)!!

IN CASE U MISSED IT: E Pun on E3

Over on comic book bud, and video game maestro Edward Pun's blog, he's got a nice little sketch diary from last weeks big E3 video game convention.

Check it out HERE

IN CASE U MISSED IT: Rip up your comics!

Here's one I missed... Over on Marc Mason's blog, TheComicsWaitingRoom, he posts about a recent offer from Devils Due Publishing, where they offer free DDP comics for anyone who rips up their recent Marvel or DC books. No joke!

Check it out HERE

Basically, if you're fed up with the glut-o-crossovers and watered down tripe from the big 2, simply rip off that cover and send it to DDP for one of their books, for free.
Now, free is gonna cost you postage for the cover, but you know, what's a postage stamp anyways (no seriously, what is a postage stamp now, .39?)

A funny little offer.

I SAW IT ON TV: Idol no more

Actually didn't see this on TV, as we were out, but heard about it... (but we have Lost on tape, as our new DVR HD digital cable box isn't installed for a couple more hours..)

On MSN TV, they cover the latest AMERICAN IDOL voting results that have shocked the nation HERE
Chris apparently, is gone... velvet tear...
He was my wife's favorite, and now "I have no reason to ever watch Idol again." she proclaimed upon learning the results! Apparently many more are just as upset...

Lucky for me, he was my least favorite of the group...
Go Yaminians!!

IN CASE U MISSED IT: Danger Will Robinson

Over on Permanent Damage, CBR.cc columnist Steven Grant spills about his take on Markosia and comics publishing warning signs HERE (just scroll down a tiny bit after the link g)

HEY DJ! - May playlist

We're off to the Goldfrapp concert tomorrow night at 9pm... It's at the Crystal Ballroom, an old ballroom dancing auditorium (with a ball bearing floor) downtown Portland that was reopened by the big McMenamins brew chain about 10 years ago... a great venue, but we haven't been there in years!
Should be cool.
Now onto...

NEW DISCS
WOLFMOTHER
At times you swear it’s Black Sabbath, or Zepplin, then there’s a lick from the Doors, or perhaps early Styx… even some straight up Jack Black/White Stripes songs that’ll having you checking the credits, but mostly, Wolfmother is a smorgasbord of 60’s rock influences and sounds. All fuzz guitar, assaulting honey dripped siren calls, rumbling and pounding… a true rock album that borrows heavily from the best, but sounds fresh and new!
Play at full volume, drop the bass, and blow out the windows!!
RECOMMENDATION: FUCK YEAH!!!

EAGLES OF DEATH METAL – DEATH BY SEXY
EODM’s name might be a bit misleading, as it’s straight up rock, not metal. It’s charging, and loud, sure, but it’s all about fun guitar licks, and bubblegum-raunch lyrics (just like Josh Homme's other band QUEENS OF THE STONEAGE). Whereas Wolfmother is heavy 60's rock, EODM is loud 70's rock. So, if you like QOTSA, and think a more 70’s rock tinged version of them sounds cool, Death By Sexy is for you!
Cherry Cola is a perfect sonic blast, and I Like To Move In The Night is a pure recycled Stones rocker (just like the cover art)… the disc generally kicks raucous ass!!
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

TOOL – 10,000 DAYS
Haven't had a chance to dig into this one yet, but the first couple passes sound like they're in good form... Great landscapes of sound and all that. I mean come on man, it's Tool... Do you really need me to tell you it's worth buying?!

OLD STUFF
YEAH YEAH YEAHS - Show Your Bones
GOLDFRAPP - Supernature
NINE INCH NAILS - With Teeth
311 - 311
WEEZER - Make Believe
FOO FIGHTERS - In Your Honor (disc 1)
DANDY WARHOLS - Odditorium or Warlords of Mars
MOGWAI - Mr. Beast

IN CASE U MISSED IT: Battlestar VS Simpsons

From Heidi MacDonald's top notch blog, THE BEAT over on ThePulse.com, there's a link to artist Dylan Meconis' LiveJournal, where she depicts the cast of the new Battlestar Galactica (must see TV for anyone!) ala The Simpsons!!!
It's great! (Just click the pic to link to see the whole cast!)

TSL APRIL highlights

Here we are already a full week into May, but I'd been meaning to add a new montly review feature, with quick links to the main posts from the previous month, kind of like a month in review for the TSL blog.

So, here are the highlights from APRIL 2006:

ANIME REVIEWS:
Karas - Check this one out, I was fortunate enough to get a review copy of this recent anime release, and it's really amazing!

DVD REVIEWS

OEL MANGA REVIEWS:
MBQ
The Abandoned
East Coast Rising
A Midnight Opera

TV REVIEWS:
4/19
4/07


COMIC BOOK REVIEWS:
Supermarket #2
Rash #1 and 2

MUSIC

FAN ART:
The Boo Super Real page
Shana fan art

Also, last month I started a virtual tour of my workspace, look for me to continue that soon!
Look for more cool stuff all May too:
new music, FFVII: Advent Children, more Tokyopop OEL manga...
STAY TUNED!

SUPER REAL NOTES - FCBD

Yesterday was Free Comic Book Day, and the fine folks at the Beaverton Thing From Another World (my local comic shop chain) invited me down for the event. Instead of creating a new book to give away, I just had issue one available for free while I was in the shop, and things were hopping.

I must admit, it was my first time at a shop on FCBD (what is this year 4 or 5 of the event?), and I was pleasantly surprised to see many kids, and people who don't normally make it into a comic store. All of my perceptions of the event were that it kind of had deviated from it's initial intent as an outreach to NEW customers into an event that EXISTING customers took advantage of, like a customer appreciation day. So, there's some hope that it is serving the original intent more than I thought...

Anyway, I gave away a ton of books (but not to the kids, as Super Real is not for them) in the 3 hours I was there, and met a lot of cool people. It was a good time, and I'm glad I did it!

Thanks to everyone who took a copy of the book and gave it a chance!
And thanks to James and the crew down at Things From Another World!!
If you're in the Portland area, stop into any one of their great shops, they are a top notch comics retailer (and are online too).

SUPER REAL Free Comic Book Week - Issue 3 preview -DAY FIVE!

In the spirit of FREE COMIC BOOK DAY, this Saturday May 6th (today), and because I'm excited to be back on track turning out pages for issue 3 of Super Real, I thought I'd go ahead and feature the first five full pages of our upcoming, exciting new issue, one page each day, all week!

Today we have page 5, artwork with the full script, available for the first time anywhere, only here on TSL (just click the pic)!

Super Real issue 3 Diamond Order Code is MAR06 3379

This concludes the free preview!

SUPER REAL Free Comic Book Week - Issue 3 preview -DAY FOUR!

In the spirit of FREE COMIC BOOK DAY, this Saturday May 6th, and because I'm excited to be back on track turning out pages for issue 3 of Super Real, I thought I'd go ahead and feature the first five full pages of our upcoming, exciting new issue, one page each day, all week!

Today we have page 4, artwork with the full script, available for the first time anywhere, only here on TSL (just click the pic)!

Super Real issue 3 Diamond Order Code is MAR06 3379

STAY TUNED!

SUPER REAL Free Comic Book Week - Issue 3 preview -DAY THREE!

In the spirit of FREE COMIC BOOK DAY, this Saturday May 6th, and because I'm excited to be back on track turning out pages for issue 3 of Super Real, I thought I'd go ahead and feature the first five full pages of our upcoming, exciting new issue, one page each day, all week!

Today we have page 3, artwork with the full script, available for the first time anywhere, only here on TSL (just click the pic)!

Super Real issue 3 Diamond Order Code is MAR06 3379

STAY TUNED!

SUPER REAL Free Comic Book Week - Issue 3 preview -DAY TWO!

In the spirit of FREE COMIC BOOK DAY, this Saturday May 6th, and because I'm excited to be back on track turning out pages for issue 3 of Super Real, I thought I'd go ahead and feature the first five full pages of our upcoming, exciting new issue, one page each day, all week!

Today we have page 2, artwork with the full script, available for the first time anywhere, only here on TSL (just click the pic)!

Super Real issue 3 Diamond Order Code is MAR06 3379

STAY TUNED!

SUPER REAL Free Comic Book Week - Issue 3 preview!

In the spirit of FREE COMIC BOOK DAY, this Saturday May 6th, and because I'm excited to be back on track turning out pages for issue 3 of Super Real, I thought I'd go ahead and feature the first five full pages of our upcoming, exciting new issue, one page each day, all week!

Tune in each day for the first five complete pages from next month's Super Real issue number 3, starting out today with page number one, the artwork with the full script, available for the first time anywhere, only here on TSL (just click the pic)!

Super Real issue 3 Diamond Order Code is MAR06 3379

STAY TUNED!