Hey, guys!
Just wanted to take a moment to share a link with you! Melanie Florencio put together this awesome trailer for our upcoming horror graphic novel "The Curse of Stranglehold"!! Check it out, let me know what you think...spread the word!
Til next time,
Matthew
Friday, January 28, 2011
Friday, January 14, 2011
2011 convention updates: SPACE and Fanaticon!
Hey, guys!
I'm ready to start updating my convention appearances for 2011...cause I've already got two lined up, baby!
First up, I'll be sharing a table with Jeremy Massie at S.P.A.C.E. in Columbus, OH on March 19 and 20! I've personally never been to this show, but Jeremy's been a few times and loves it! Seems like it'll be similar to SPX, so I'm all about it. And to add to the extra coolness, Katie Omberg will have a table at SPACE as well, so I'm hoping that we are set up near her!
On May 21, I'll be attending Fanaticon 2 ! I loved last year's show, so I jumped at the chance to take part in its return. Jeremy and I will be sharing a table there as well. The fine folks who run Fanaticon also set up Fanaticon 2 trading cards, showcasing the work of some of the artists that will be at the show. I lucked out and got "The Adventurers of Liberty City" to be Fanaticon 2 Collector Card #4!! Click on the link here to see the card! These babies are available at various locations around the Asheville area, but very soon, I'll have my own personal little stash to give away!
These shows are just the start of the con season this year, so trust me, I'm lining up some other awesome conventions to attend!
I'll be back soon with my Top 10 CDs of 2010 list.
Til next time,
Matthew
I'm ready to start updating my convention appearances for 2011...cause I've already got two lined up, baby!
First up, I'll be sharing a table with Jeremy Massie at S.P.A.C.E. in Columbus, OH on March 19 and 20! I've personally never been to this show, but Jeremy's been a few times and loves it! Seems like it'll be similar to SPX, so I'm all about it. And to add to the extra coolness, Katie Omberg will have a table at SPACE as well, so I'm hoping that we are set up near her!
On May 21, I'll be attending Fanaticon 2 ! I loved last year's show, so I jumped at the chance to take part in its return. Jeremy and I will be sharing a table there as well. The fine folks who run Fanaticon also set up Fanaticon 2 trading cards, showcasing the work of some of the artists that will be at the show. I lucked out and got "The Adventurers of Liberty City" to be Fanaticon 2 Collector Card #4!! Click on the link here to see the card! These babies are available at various locations around the Asheville area, but very soon, I'll have my own personal little stash to give away!
These shows are just the start of the con season this year, so trust me, I'm lining up some other awesome conventions to attend!
I'll be back soon with my Top 10 CDs of 2010 list.
Til next time,
Matthew
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Top 10 Ongoing Comic Series of 2010
Hey, guys!
Jeff Lemire's post-apocalyptic comic about human/animal hybirds possibly leading to the extinction of man continues to be a great read. You can feel the tension mounting with each issue as the title character helps other hybrids, while we learn more about the mysterious anti-hero, Jeppard.
I'm back for my list of the Top 10 Ongoing Comic Series of 2010. Last year seemed to be the year of some of my favorite series being doomed, basically. I have three honorable mentions, and two of them didn't make the cut because they got canned too early. So, honorable mentions are Secret Six (from DC; still good, but couldn't crack the 10), Nova (from Marvel; such a great book and cancelled without even a warning!), and The Web (from DC; easily the best of the Red Circle revamps, but didn't get enough time to grow!). Now, onto the list...
10. Chew (Image)
Even though this book slipped a few notches compared to 2009, it's still an amazingly odd and hilarious book about a special investigator who can gain all knowledge of victims from the crimes he investigates by eating their remains. 2010 revealed more about Tony Chu's past and introduced some interesting supporting characters.
9. Sweet Tooth (Vertigo)
Jeff Lemire's post-apocalyptic comic about human/animal hybirds possibly leading to the extinction of man continues to be a great read. You can feel the tension mounting with each issue as the title character helps other hybrids, while we learn more about the mysterious anti-hero, Jeppard. 8. Echo (Abstract)
Terry Moore's military/sci-fi adventure series has been a mainstay in my Top 10 list since it's debut nearly three years ago. Moore proves that not only can he draw a pretty face, but he can write some intense scenarios for his characters.
7. Darkwing Duck (Boom!)
I was a huge fan of the DW cartoon back in the day, so I was very excited to hear Boom! was reviving the character as part of it's expanding Disney line. Each issue reads like a lost episode of the series, it's near perfect!
6. Secret Avengers (Marvel)
You've got Brubaker and Deodato teaming up for Steve Roger's new team of characters who shouldn't work well together but totally do. Some of my favorites are here (War Machine, Nova, Moon Knight, Black Widow) as well as giving some spotlight to some very deserving characters (Valkyrie, Eric O'Grady Ant Man)...and I love Beast returning to The Avengers!
5. Thunderbolts (Marvel)
I started reading TBolts some years ago, when Norman Osborne and Bullseye joined the team. Each time the line-up changed, I wasn't sure what to expect, but found new favorite characters. When Jeff Parker changed up the team this past year, I was blown away. Luke Cage and John Walker (USAgent), along with former TBolts Mach V, Songbird, and Fixer, are training new (and old) recruits Moonstone, Juggernaut, Ghost, Crossbones, and Man-Thing!
4. Scarlet (Icon/Marvel)
Some people have a love/hate relationship with Bendis' superhero stuff, but you can't deny he can really write the hell out of a crime book. Scarlet is about a female character who breaks the fourth wall and goes into detail about the death of her boyfriend by corrupt cops and how the reader will help her bring down the system. Alex Maleev delivers some of his best artwork I've seen in some time here as well.
3. Avengers (Marvel)
I wasn't sure if Bendis could pull off writing a "classic" Avengers book, but he's done it and I've been impressed. He and artist John Romita, Jr. have assembled Captain America (still Bucky), Iron Man, Thor, Spider-Man, Wolverine, Hawkeye, and Spider-Woman along with new members (?) The Protector and Red Hulk to carry on the legacy. The first time-traveling arc was the stuff old school Avengers were made of, and the new arc featuring the Infinity Gauntlet has the makings to be great as well.
2. Hawkeye and Mockingbird (Marvel)
Man, this series was GREAT, but it got the axe after only 6 issues?!? Hawkeye joins Mockingbird's World Counter-terrorism Agency to handle the dirty work the Avengers can't get mixed up in. The team of McCann and Lopez did some fantastic work and made me remember how much I loved West Coast Avengers.
1. Morning Glories (Image)
If you've read any comic website in the past 6 months, you've heard about this book...and it lives up to the hype! Six teenagers are recruited at a prestigious private school...only to be find it filled with mystery, murder, and intrigue. New comics' "star" Nick Spencer writes a comic that leaves me wanting more each issue and I find myself reading this first when my monthly comics arrive!
That's all for now. I'll be back soon with my Top 10 CDs of 2010 and some comic convention news!
Til next time,
Matthew
Matthew
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Top 10 Limited Series of 2010
Hey, everyone!
10. Underground (Image)
Parker and Lieber's comic didn't grab me at first, but as each issue went on, I felt myself being drawn to it more and more. The story involves a couple of park rangers trapped in a series of underground caverns, running from some power and money hungry land developers. It reads like a really good action movie, which is something hard to find in comics at times. I have no idea how Lieber was able to capture the feeling of being underground in his artwork, but it's pretty amazing.
Clevenger and Wegener show no signs of slowing down with the greatness of this book. With it's fourth volume, we see Robo taking on vampires and going to Japan. A good mix of adventure, sci-fi, and humor. As I said before, like a brilliant blend of Hellboy and The Rocketeer.
The same creative team that brought us last year's excellent X-Men/Spider-Man limited series returns to team up ol' Webhead with Marvel's First Family. It's set up in a similar fashion as the X/Spidey one...each issue chronologically represents a different time period in Marvel history with Mr. Parker teaming up with the FF to face an ongoing threat. There's little nods to several plot points in Marvel history here as well, like the Clone Saga and Secret Invasion. I would love another team-up series by Cage and Alberti...maybe a Spidey/Avengers comic coming up??
Hack/Slash has never made it to any of my lists in the past, and I actually just really got into the book within the past couple of years. When it made the shift from DDP to Image, Tim Seeley kicked off the transition with this limited series, telling an origin story for Cassie Hack. Why did this book make the cut (no pun intended)? Because it reads like an 80's slasher movie in my opinion...and I'm a huge fan of those! Trust me, if you've watched movies like Friday the 13th, My Bloody Valentine, April Fool's Day, The Prowler, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and The Final Terror, you'll get the same type of vibe from this book!
3. Demo (Vertigo)
The first volume of Demo was something I nabbed up from a CBLDF booth at Heroes Con years ago and fell in love with. When I heard Brian Wood and Becky Cloonan were returning the book to DC's Vertigo imprint for a second volume, I was ecstatic. It was great in many ways. Each issue is a stand alone story, centering on someone who has powers...but their personal lives are the real story here, while the powers are the backdrop. That's what makes this book so powerful...strip away the super elements, you have a strong story...something which Wood excels at. And Becky Cloonan's art...what can I say...she continues to amaze me with what she can do with some pencils, pens, and brushes.
Been a little bit since I've posted on here, due to new day job and a move from VA to TN (spreading my influence, one state at a time, folks), but I'm back, baby! And 2011 is shaping up to be an awesome year...but let's not discuss that right now. Let's look back at 2010, shall we...that's right, it's time for the TOP 10 LIMITED SERIES OF 2010!
Of course, I don't have the time (or more importantly, the money) to read everything, so if I overlooked something stellar this year, by all means, let me know. I should give a few honorable mentions, first...X-Babies (from Marvel - hey, the nostalgia of X-Babies and Star Comics characters got me!), The Ghoul (from IDW - Niles and Wrightson team up again), The Mighty Crusaders (from DC - started slow, but ended nicely), and Light (from Image - bizarre comic about light basically doing people in, worth the read). Now, onto the top 10...
10. Underground (Image)
Parker and Lieber's comic didn't grab me at first, but as each issue went on, I felt myself being drawn to it more and more. The story involves a couple of park rangers trapped in a series of underground caverns, running from some power and money hungry land developers. It reads like a really good action movie, which is something hard to find in comics at times. I have no idea how Lieber was able to capture the feeling of being underground in his artwork, but it's pretty amazing.9. Atomic Robo (Red 5)
Clevenger and Wegener show no signs of slowing down with the greatness of this book. With it's fourth volume, we see Robo taking on vampires and going to Japan. A good mix of adventure, sci-fi, and humor. As I said before, like a brilliant blend of Hellboy and The Rocketeer.8. Batman Beyond (DC)
I never really saw much of the cartoon back in the day, but I always heard good things. This new limited series brings Terry McGinnis into the DC Universe, by setting up a storyline where Hush appears to be back in McGinnis' future, taking out former Bat villains. Some old allies show up and a new Catwoman is introduced. This mini series paved the way for the upcoming ongoing by the same creative team of Beechen and Benjamin.
I never really saw much of the cartoon back in the day, but I always heard good things. This new limited series brings Terry McGinnis into the DC Universe, by setting up a storyline where Hush appears to be back in McGinnis' future, taking out former Bat villains. Some old allies show up and a new Catwoman is introduced. This mini series paved the way for the upcoming ongoing by the same creative team of Beechen and Benjamin.7. Tracker (Image/Top Cow)
I bought this book on a whim and it really impressed me. An FBI agent hunting a serial killer uncovers a strange secret about his assignment...he's a werewolf and he's turned the agent into one as well. I can easily see this comic becoming a pretty decent horror movie...it's filled with intrigue, scares, a love triangle, and action.
I bought this book on a whim and it really impressed me. An FBI agent hunting a serial killer uncovers a strange secret about his assignment...he's a werewolf and he's turned the agent into one as well. I can easily see this comic becoming a pretty decent horror movie...it's filled with intrigue, scares, a love triangle, and action.6. Spider-Man and The Fantastic Four (Marvel)
The same creative team that brought us last year's excellent X-Men/Spider-Man limited series returns to team up ol' Webhead with Marvel's First Family. It's set up in a similar fashion as the X/Spidey one...each issue chronologically represents a different time period in Marvel history with Mr. Parker teaming up with the FF to face an ongoing threat. There's little nods to several plot points in Marvel history here as well, like the Clone Saga and Secret Invasion. I would love another team-up series by Cage and Alberti...maybe a Spidey/Avengers comic coming up??5. Nemesis (Marvel/Icon)
Mark Millar seems to be one of those comic writers that people love or hate. Regardless of this debate amongst comic fans, I find most of his stuff enjoyable. Nemesis is a prime example...yeah, it's over-the-top violence, but hey, Millar can do that well! I think I read somewhere that this book was described as "What if Batman was a villain?", which is pretty accurate. Nemesis is smart, calculating, and will let nothing stand in his way for revenge. McNiven continues to improve still with some amazing art in this book!
Mark Millar seems to be one of those comic writers that people love or hate. Regardless of this debate amongst comic fans, I find most of his stuff enjoyable. Nemesis is a prime example...yeah, it's over-the-top violence, but hey, Millar can do that well! I think I read somewhere that this book was described as "What if Batman was a villain?", which is pretty accurate. Nemesis is smart, calculating, and will let nothing stand in his way for revenge. McNiven continues to improve still with some amazing art in this book!4. Hack/Slash: My First Maniac (Image)
Hack/Slash has never made it to any of my lists in the past, and I actually just really got into the book within the past couple of years. When it made the shift from DDP to Image, Tim Seeley kicked off the transition with this limited series, telling an origin story for Cassie Hack. Why did this book make the cut (no pun intended)? Because it reads like an 80's slasher movie in my opinion...and I'm a huge fan of those! Trust me, if you've watched movies like Friday the 13th, My Bloody Valentine, April Fool's Day, The Prowler, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and The Final Terror, you'll get the same type of vibe from this book!3. Demo (Vertigo)
The first volume of Demo was something I nabbed up from a CBLDF booth at Heroes Con years ago and fell in love with. When I heard Brian Wood and Becky Cloonan were returning the book to DC's Vertigo imprint for a second volume, I was ecstatic. It was great in many ways. Each issue is a stand alone story, centering on someone who has powers...but their personal lives are the real story here, while the powers are the backdrop. That's what makes this book so powerful...strip away the super elements, you have a strong story...something which Wood excels at. And Becky Cloonan's art...what can I say...she continues to amaze me with what she can do with some pencils, pens, and brushes.2. Afrodisiac (Adhouse)
Jim Rugg is hilarious and talented...we should all hope to be both of those things in our lifetime. His comic/graphic novel about Afrodisiac, a blaxploitation comic character spanning through the decades, nails it on so many levels. Each issue, done in each era or comic imprint's style, is amazingly detailed, and I can't remember a book that has made me laugh out loud so much. Highly recommended!!
Jim Rugg is hilarious and talented...we should all hope to be both of those things in our lifetime. His comic/graphic novel about Afrodisiac, a blaxploitation comic character spanning through the decades, nails it on so many levels. Each issue, done in each era or comic imprint's style, is amazingly detailed, and I can't remember a book that has made me laugh out loud so much. Highly recommended!!1. Daytripper (Vertigo)
Fabio Moon and Gabriel Ba...these two guys are the type you love to hate and hate to love. Their stories and artwork are so good, it amazes you but wish you could craft something as excellent. This series is really something different, too, with each issue centering around the death of the main character, Bras, but with the next issue picking up as if he avoided or survived the experience the next issue. A summation by me won't do it justice...do yourself a favor and buy this book!
Fabio Moon and Gabriel Ba...these two guys are the type you love to hate and hate to love. Their stories and artwork are so good, it amazes you but wish you could craft something as excellent. This series is really something different, too, with each issue centering around the death of the main character, Bras, but with the next issue picking up as if he avoided or survived the experience the next issue. A summation by me won't do it justice...do yourself a favor and buy this book!Well, that's it for now...I'll be back real soon with the top 10 ongoing comic titles of 2010.
Til next time,
Matthew
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