FLiP On #2 is on the way!

Hoooot! Hooooot! All aboard the Year of Comics train...it's now a-rolling. Okay, this was the dumbest way to ever start a post...

Anyway, I'm happy to announce that Josh Talley and I got confirmation today that "FLiP On" #2 is now being printed. So, yes, that means we'll have the copies in our paws within the next few weeks. You can catch a glimpse of the cover above...basically several little weird sketches done by Josh and me over the last several years of our life. I'm excited about it (of course, I'm excited every time one of my little books gets to see the light of day), but looking at the digital proof of it today made me even more excited. It looks even better than Josh or I thought it would.

We've got some of the favorites from issue 1 returning, such as "Moe & Ron", "Inhabitionless", "Hang in There", and "System One". We also have two new features: "Metal Head Manny", a tale written and illustrated by me flashing back to the glory days of hair metal...and the countless metal posers; and "How To Draw Manga", a little tutorial cooked up by Josh and myself about how to draw your very own manga comic...if you are lame enough to try. As soon as the book is available to order on IndyPlanet. com, I'll be posting the link. Even cooler news is that I should be getting it back from the printers right before I head off to Virginia ComiCon in Richmond on Feb. 28th. So, if you're gonna be there, grab a copy from me!

Til next time,

Matthew

P.S. I finally convinced Josh to revisit the use of his blog, so click on his name over to the right and see what he has to offer in the way of on-line chuckles.

Top 10 cds for 2009

Yeah, I know...we're almost a month into 2010 and I'm FINALLY getting around to this list. Trust me...compiling a best of list for a year is a lot harder than it sounds usually. So, I should make note that when making my list for a year, I exclude greatest hits released in said year; the songs weren't recorded that year, it seems like a cop out to me. But I still sometimes throw them in my honorable mention category. So, for 2009 honorable mentions we have: Thao with the Get Down Stay Down - "Know Better Learn Faster", Kylesa - "Static Tensions", Bury Your Dead - "It's Nothing Personal", "Away We Go" soundtrack, and Foo Fighters - "Greatest Hits" (highly recommended for the two new songs and disc of videos at least!). Now, on to the list:

10. The Prodigy - "Invaders Must Die" - Even though this group hasn't been as huge as they were in the late 90s, they are still cranking out some great techno music (an oxymoron in most cases). This album doesn't disappoint...if you were a fan of "Fat of the Land" back in the day, you'll dig this one.

9. Constants - "The Foundation, The Machine, The Ascension" - I stumbled across this band when doing some background checking into the band from #5 on this list. Some very nice, moody alternative rock. The lead vocalist reminds me a little of Gavin Rossdale.

8. Everclear - "In A Different Light" - Some may say this is border line greatest hits. Art and his new line-up recorded acoustic versions of some of their best songs from earlier in Everclear's career and added a couple of new tracks. I'll be the first to admit that I was a HUGE Everclear fan years ago, but their last couple of cds were major disappointments to me. Hope this signifies them getting back on track.

7. The Flaming Lips - "Embryonic" - I've been hooked on The Flaming Lips since I saw them open up for Stone Temple Pilots and Butthole Surfers during the summer of '93. This year's release is the best cd they've recorded since "The Soft Bulletin", at least. It's all over the place, musically, much like several of their early albums, but it flows and makes beautiful noise.

6. Silversun Pickups - "Swoon" - The band's sophomore effort really paid off here. It's nice to hear a fairly new alternative band that doesn't...well, SUCK. Most bands that have come about in the past several years in that genre have been supremely lame. Silversun manages to bring something new to the table, but also some nostalgia element...listen to them and tell me you don't hear a little Smashing Pumpkins there.

5. Caspian - "Tertia" - I discovered this band when checking out a compilation cd from some music magazine. They are all instrumental and simply amazing. Very talented guys that produce some excellent rock music for mellowing out times.

4. Jeremy Enigk - "OK Bear" - Being a huge fan of Sunny Day Real Estate, I am, of course, going to dive into a release from their lead singer. This is Enigk's 4th solo album, and quite possibly, his best. He retains the sound that sets his music apart from his band's, but at the same time, does less orchestrations here and focuses on the rock element from SDRE.

3. Mastodon - "Crack The Skye" - Wow, this album blew me away! I'm not quite sure how this metal band keeps getting better and better, but they do. Not afraid to take risks and doing something different has paid off for the guys with this year's cd.

2. Them Crooked Vultures - self-titled - Dave Grohl. Josh Homme. John Paul Jones. Need I say anymore? A great rock album, that could have very well been the new Queens of the Stone Age cd...regardless, totally kicks ass.

1. Baroness - "Blue Record" - Holy crap...those were my thoughts as I first listened to this entire album. I'm a big fan of heavy metal, but it's been a looooong time since a new metal band has really wowed me. Baroness did it. Every track on this cd is a masterpiece...great instrumentation...a perfect balance of heaviness and melodies. Highly recommended for fans of heavy music.

Well, there you have it...I finally finished my lists. I'll be back soon with some comic updates.

Til next time,

Matthew

Convention Updates!

Howdy!

No, I'm not posting my Top 10 cds of 2009 yet...that will be later this week. I did want to take a minute to update everyone on the 2010 convention status. Two...that's right, TWO...new convention appearances have been added to my list! And even better...I'll have some of my buds along with me!

On Sunday, February 28, I'll be at the Virginia ComiCon in Richmond, VA, sharing a table with Katie Omberg! You'll remember that Katie is the super awesome lady that worked on the Hip Hop Hooray mini-comic. We're planning another mini-comic to possibly debut at this show, too! I have yet to attend this show, but I've heard from loads of people that it's a really good one. They actually put the show on three or four times a year, and the last show of the year is a big two day one with loads of guest. I'm pretty stoked to be part of their first event for 2010!

Also added is Fanaticon in Asheville, NC on May 15. Josh Talley (my co-creator from T.A.K. Comics on the FLiP On title) and I will be manning the table there. It takes place at the Asheville Art Museum and if the guest list SO FAR is any indication of how cool this show will be, then you're not gonna want to miss it! Not only will my good buddy Brian Wingrove from Bear Butt Comics be there, but also Hope Larson, Dustin Harbin, Plastic Farm Press, WideAwake Press, and many other great dudes!

For more information about the VA ComiCon or Fanaticon, click on the links over to the right. If you guys can make it to any of these shows, I'd love to see you there. I'll probably actually be debuting some new books at both of these cons as well, so keep checking back here for updates on that!

Til next time,
Matthew

Top 10 Ongoing Comic Book Series for 2009

I'm back with another top 10 list. The title of the post is self-explanatory, so I'll begin. Honorable mentions should go out to New Mutants (Marvel), Irredeemable (Boom!), and Thunderbolts (Marvel).

10. Secret Six (DC) - I was a big fan of the Villains United and Secret Six limited series from the past several years and this ongoing has kept the same pace and unpredictability that I love from those books. Deadshot, Catman, Scandal, and Ragdoll seem to be the only definite constants, but the book even makes you wonder sometimes. Nicola Scott's art is a beautiful companion to Gail Simone's words.

9. Dark Avengers (Marvel) - If someone would have told me a year ago that my favorite Avengers title would be one where the team is compiled of villains and no "real" former Avengers, I would have called them a dirty liar. Well, I take it back now. While still not truly feeling like an Avengers book, this is essentially Marvel's Secret Six (well, Thunderbolts is that as well, but anyway...). This team is just waiting for the one thing to cause it to all come apart...we'll see if this year's "Siege" does that.

8. Chew (Image) - One of the most original and funny books I've read in awhile. In a time when eating chicken is outlawed, the FDA has a special force assigned to bring down illegal chicken cookeries. John Chu is a new member...and he happens to be able to trace the history of food whenever he eats it. This leads to some interesting murder cases. Quite bizarre, but well worth the read.

7. Gotham City Sirens (DC) - Clearly, the villains reigned supreme in 2009. This selection features the hi jinx and adventures of three Bat-baddies: Catwoman, Harley Quinn, and Poison Ivy. Written by the unbelievable Paul Dini with stunning art by Gullem March, this is one of the best of the bat titles right now.

6. Deadpool (Marvel) - Deadpool's latest ongoing by Daniel Way and Paco Medina has found a warm spot in my heart. I was uncertain about a new monthly by this creative team, but they impressed me and each issue is hilarious with a wild, usually violent, storyline.

5. The Web (DC) - I'm a HUGE fan of the Red Circle/Archie heroes. So, when I heard DC was getting another crack at putting out books about them (previous attempt was in the early 90s with their Impact line), I was all over it. So far, two ongoings have been created, with The Web being the best. Combining elements of the classic Web character with bits and pieces from the Impact counterpart, this is a great, classic superhero book with a modern twist. The Web attempts to avenge his brother's death, but uses his riches to enlist "Web Hosts" to wear a suit and help the cause.

4. Sweet Tooth (Vertigo) - After reading Jeff Lemire's Essex County trilogy from Top Shelf, I was a fan for life. His ongoing through Vertigo has been dubbed as "Mad Max meets Bambi"...odd, yet slightly accurate. In a post-apocalyptic future, a young, human/deer hybrid boy is befriended by an elderly man in search of hope as a plague wipes out the human race. Touching at times...dark and horrific at others.

3. Nova (Marvel) - Abnett & Lanning continue to come out on top at Marvel with their adventures of the cosmic fighter, Nova. This year, Nova has dealt with all the "space crossover events" and rebuilt the Nova Corps. Consistently a great read and the supporting cast is great (Darkhawk, baby!!)

2. Echo (Abstract) - Terry Moore is quite possibly one of the best modern comic book storytellers today. His sci-fi/action/adventure comic constantly leaves you on the edge of your seat, as a woman (who already has enough troubles in her life) gets showered with a mysterious metal like material during a military exercise in the desert. Now, a top secret military group is after her...and the metal has formed a protective super suit over her body! Great, great book.

1. The Unwritten (Vertigo) - What would happen if the Harry Potter books were based on a real person? Could you imagine the media attention the kid/man would get? And what happened if it started to seem like this Harry basis was somehow, maybe pulled from the books? And some of the other characters, including the villains, were real, too? And the author left this Harry basis clues to uncovering the secrets of his life? That's "Unwritten" in a nutshell for you...a wild story with top notch art. You gotta read it to experience it.

Thanks for reading, guys. I'll be back soon with my Top 10 CDs of 2009...and some convention news!

Til next time,

Matthew

Top 10 Comic Book Limited Series of 2009

For the past several years, Brad, David, and I (along with a few of our friends) have been sharing our Top 10 lists in the areas of comics and music, mainly. So, I figured that I would post my 2009 selections on my blog for all to see. Our only "requirement" for the Top 10 limited series list is that the book has to be COMPLETED in that year (not necessarily started). One of my selections actually ended this week, so I'm letting it slide. We also lump original graphic novels and one-shots in this category. First, I should note the honorable mentions...those books that almost made it to the top 10, but not quite...and those are Image's "Savage", Marvel's "X-Men: Manifest Destiny", and Dark Horse's "Werewolves on the Moon vs. Vampires". All good reads, but on to the BEST...

10. Atomic Robo: Shadow From Beyond Time (Red 5) - The third volume in the series of Atomic Robo books pits the robot character in a time traveling bout against a giant creature. Luckily, Robo is able to team up with various scientists (and past and future versions of himself) to stop the creature. Action packed with lots of humor!

9. Dead Irons (Dynamite) - Take vampires and werewolves...put them in the Old West...add in some dysfunctional family drama...and bam, you've got an awesome book!

8. New Avengers: The Reunion (Marvel) - After some minor Skrull trouble in the MU, Clint Barton (Hawkeye or Ronin or whatever) and Mockingbird are reunited, after both have died! This limited series gave the couple some alone time...fighting crime and each other, of course. This comic convinced me that Jim McCann SHOULD be writing one of the ongoing Avengers books cause this was some solid work, folks.

7. GI Joe: Cobra (IDW) - The comic license for GI Joe shifted from DDP to IDW this year, meaning the launch of new ongoing and limited series. This one by Christos Gage, Mike Costa, and Antonio Fuso features a Joe agent (Chuckles) infiltrating Cobra...at heavy costs. Well written, great art.

6. We Kill Monsters (Red 5) - A great mix of humor and horror as several breed of monsters attack a small town...leaving it up to the slacker brothers who own the local garage to fight them off. Oh, did I forget to mention one of the brothers gets an infected arm and it mutates into a monster arm?

5. Mercy Sparx (DDP) - Mercy is a demon, living on Earth. Her mission: to bring angels back to Heaven that have fled in order to live life on Earth. A recurring theme I have is that I love humor and horror mixed...this one delivers. An entertaining read for metal fans as well.

4. The DeadBeat (Alterna) - Jeremy Massie's mini comics were collected into graphic novel format this year. A great story about a down-and-out superhero who is reunited with his now adult long-lost daughter...and she's got powers. Massie really hits the nail on the head with the humor, but also with the slice-of-life type storyline. His art really shines here, too...the perfect blend of simple cartoony style with a classic superhero touch...almost reminiscent of cartoons I grew up watching.

3. X-Men/Spider-Man (Marvel) - Since the core X-titles have really disappointed me lately, this was a breath of fresh air that really makes me want Christos Gage and Mario Alberti to be the regular creative team on Uncanny X-Men. Each issue chronicles a group of X-Men teaming up with Spider-Man over the years (basically the 60s, 80s, 90s, and current rosters/costume changes of the heroes here) to battle common foes...and they slowly realize that all these encounters are tied together!

2. Destroyer (Marvel/MAX) - Wow, when I heard of this book, I thought it would be good, but had no idea I would enjoy it this much! Robert Kirkman and Cory Walker give us an aging superhero who is near indestructible...but can that stop him from getting too old to battle? When a villain from the past returns and seeks to hurt Destroyer's family, he must postpone retirement to take care of business.

1. Pixu: The Mark of Evil (Dark Horse) - A collaboration between Vasilis Lolos, Becky Cloonan, Fabio Moon, and Gabriel Ba to tell a very dark horror tale, centered on the tenants of an apartment building, who are slowly coming apart at the seams. Each creator is GREAT on the books they have done separately over the years. But having all 4 of them working together on a horror story was quite amazing! Highly recommended!

Well, there you have it...I'll be back soon with my Top 10 Ongoing Comics of 2009.

Til next time,

Matthew

2010...the year of comics!

I hope everyone had a great New Year's...I know I did! Time to usher in 2010, and frankly, I'm hoping this is gonna be a GREAT year for me and comics. I've already got several things cooking in the pot, so here's a brief rundown of what I have been up to the past few weeks and what's on the very near horizon...

* The Adventurers of Liberty City #6 is getting closer and closer to completion. Brad Jaskula has done a very awesome cover to it that I will be coloring for him shortly. Also, we're gathering everything for a nice graphic novel collection of the first 5 issues of The Adventurers of Liberty City! It's gonna be packed with extras, including some early character sketches by Brad, David, and me as well as some bonus pinups by some other comic creators!

* Finishing up FLiP On #2 with Josh Talley...we should be sending that off to the printers by the end of next week, which is always exciting. We're also a little over half way done with the fist issue of our new anthology, TAK Presents, which will enter a different territory than FLiP On. Two other projects are in the works...one written by Josh with art by the both of us...the other written by me with a new artist that will blow you away! More to come...

* If you missed the recent post, Suggestion Box #2: Hip Hop Hooray is now available (click on the title of it over to your right for more info). Katie Omberg and I are planning another venture into the Suggestion Box domain, so that should be coming very soon as well!

* Been working on co-scripting and doing character designs for the debut issue of Vultar, based on the superhero novel by Vernon Lee! I'll be posting some of those sketches and more info about all that very soon. Looks like I'll start drawing the first issue this week, actually...

* Over the course of the next month or so, I'll be updating the "2010 Comic Convention Appearances" bar over to the right. So far, I'm booked for the Roanoke Valley ComiCon on April 3, 2010. Got another con in the works and making plans for quite a few more...keep checking back.

* Within the next few days, I'll be posting my opinion on the Top 10 ongoing comic and Top 10 limited series for 2009. Later in the month, I'll do another post for my Top 10 cds for 2009. Should be worth reading...

Well, I think that's all the updates for right now. As you can see, I've been plenty busy, and I honestly hope it won't slow down. Check back in a few days for more info...I promise, it'll be good!

Til next time,
Matthew