Help support a memorial for legendary comic creator Harvey Pekar

November 4, 2011

We’ve seen Kickstarter used to help people with art projects, film, comic collaborations and, perhaps most memorably, to build the city of Detroit a statue of Robocop.  But I’ve seen few causes as worthy as this one: help build a Harvey Pekar memorial in the Cleveland Heights Public Library.  Harvey is rightfully considered one of the greats when it comes to comics – if you haven’t read any American Splendor,  you really should – and this project looks like a fantastic way to memorialize him in the city he loved: not with a massive statue of the man, but of a memorial to the art form he so influenced in a location he loved.

As always, donations can get you some pretty sweet prizes, everything from your name on an online thank you list for the memorial to complete sets of Harvey’s comics work, calls or coffee dates from Harvey’s friends, family, collaborators (who include folks like R. Crumb, Alison Bechdel, Gilbert Hernandez and Alan Moore – though I hasten to add, there’s no mention as to who, specifically, you’d be talking to)  and the stars of the 2003 American Splendor film adaptation.

But even if there weren’t any gifts offered to those who pledge money, it’d still be worth your while.  As a longtime Clevelander currently trapped in Atlanta, I know I’d love to come home one day and be able to celebrate comics culture in the city that raised such immensely talented creators as Jerry Siegel & Joe Shuster (Action Comics), Brian Michael Bendis (Ultimate Spider-Man), Brian K. Vaughan (Y: The Last Man), Bill Watterson (Calvin and Hobbes), Brian Azzarello (100 Bullets) and, of course, Harvey Pekar (American Splendor).  Help support comics culture, and Pekar’s legacy in Cleveland.


Happy National Star Wars Day!

May 4, 2011

Happy National Star Wars Day!.


Review: Disney on Ice: Princess Classics

October 7, 2010

Read the rest of this entry »


Great Blogs of Fire!

May 17, 2010

It’s been a slow day at work today.  So I did a little surfing of the Blogosphere and I figured I’d share some of the better reads:

Damon Beres usese the Return of Bruce Wayne as an opportunity to write nothing less than a Comics Manifesto.

The Weekly Crisis takes on the Moments of the Week to hilarious effect.  (Or, if not hilarious, very funny effect.)

Final Crisis vs. Blackest Night – the debate rages on.  The Mindless Ones weigh in with one of the best comparissons I have seen.

Looks like Marvel got in on pissing readers off last week.  All Things Fangirl speaks out against last week’s revelation about Rogue’s sex life.

Every Day is Like Wednesday echoes a thought about the so-called “Brightest Day” that has been rattling around my head lately as well.

Let’s Be Friends Again has a clever little comic about the racism charges that have been levelled against DC lately.  I smailed at the title: Geoff Johns, you blockhead!

Comics Daily wonders Who’s Regressing Next.

I think it’s one of the signs of the apocalypse, but I have a new found respect for Shia LaBouf who admits he botched the last Indiana Jones.

Happy reading!

read/RANT!


Long Beach Comic Con 2009!

October 5, 2009

Yes, I was there at the first Long Beach con. I thought I’d share my adventures with all of you, and by adventures, I mean pretty sketches.

Amanda Conner’s Supergirl!

I’m going to get a detailed one someday, but these quickies are great too.

Darick Robertson’s Frenchie and Female!

It’s hard to tell in the photo, but this piece is huge.

David Finch’s Catwoman! 

David modeled this after Jim Lee’s art. So, to have Scott Williams ink it is perfect.

Doug Mahnke’s Frankenstein!

Doug. Mahnke. Frankenstein. ‘Nuff said!

Geoff Johns’ Hal Jordan!

I should’ve had him write in the word balloon: “I am so kewl!”

J. Scott Campbell’s Mary Jane!

Finally, after years of waiting.

Micah Gunnell’s Black Cat!

Always a pleasure to talk to this guy, and the sketch aint bad either!

Philip Tan’s Scarlet!

Man, that’s ugly. In a good way.

Simone Bianchi’s Shining Knight!

Two soldiers down, five to go.

Notable signed items?

Ennis’ second out-of-print Punisher hardcover!

Skull, courtesy of Darick Robertson. Mini-Frank, rendered by Jimmy Palmiotti. And that third signature belongs to big Frank himself, Thomas Jane.

The Pro, in oversized out-of-print hardcover style!

Signed by the entire art team: Amanda Conner, Jimmy Palmiotti, and Paul Mounts. This just demanded a Pro sketch, and Amanda was kind enough to deliver.

That’s all, folks. I had a blast, and I hope it’s even better next year.

For more comic goodness, go here.


James Robinson’s Full Script for “JLA: Cry For Justice”

August 6, 2009

Warning: This is not for the easily offended.  That James Robinson is quite the perv.  Anyway, here’s the original script in it’s entirity:

(Scene: Gotham City – the city of corruption and carnival treats.)

Ollie: Damn, Hal!  You sure told those bitches off!

Hal: Fuck yeah!  I rule.

Ollie: I could sure go for a funnel cake right now.

Hal: Gotham City - Land of corruption and fried dough.  I have a confession to make.

Ollie: If it involves you getting Huntress and Lady Blackhawk drunk and taking advantage of them, I’m all ears.

Hal: You know I shagged them!

Ollie: I know.  All the boys at the Hall of Justice were talking about it.  Those Birds of Prey are easy once you get a few drinks in ‘em.  Even Metamorpho got freaky with the one in a wheelchair.

Hal: Mmmmm.  She’s a red head.  You know what they say about red heads…

Ollie: So, who was the best lay?

Hal: Let me think.  There have been so many.  You’d think it would be Power Girl.  But she just kind of lays there.

Ollie: The chesty ones always do.  And then they expect you to be all grateful cause they let you squeeze their boobs.

Hal: But what a rack, am I right?

Ollie: High five, bro!

Hal: I think the best had to be Big Barda.  Once you’ve gone New God, you can never go back.

Ollie: Holla!

Hal: And then there was Misfit.  Sure, she’s young.  But if there’s grass on the field!

Ollie: You old horndog!  Are there any Birds of Prey you haven’t fucked?

Hal: Hell to the no!  I’ve fucked ‘em all.  Sometimes two at a time.  One time the blonde in fishnets went down on me while Manhunter watched.  Let me tell you something, she was the freakiest one of all.

Ollie: The blonde in fishnets?!?

Hal: Yeah, what was her name?  It’s on the tip of my toungue…

Ollie: You mean Black Canary?!?

Hal: Yeah, that’s it!  That girl’s a screamer, let me tell you.

Ollie: You fucked my wife?!?

Hal: Shit, you married that bitch?

Ollie: I know!  What was I thinking?

Hal: Still bros?

Ollie: Forever and for always.

Hal: God, I hated Bruce Wayne.

Ollie: I know.  What a prick!

Hal: I’m glad he’s dead.  I mean, I respected him and all.

Ollie: Sure.  I hear he screwed Catwoman.

Hal: Catwoman’s no big deal.  You know they’re fake, right?

Ollie: Seriously?

Hal: How can you not know Catwoman’s boobs are fake?  Bruce bought her those so he wouldn’t feel like he was stuffing Robin.

(Scene: Two characters no one cares about are fighting on an island for no good reason.)

Congorilla: I hate you.

Starman: I’m totally going to kill you!

Congorilla: Not if I kill you first.

Starman: I’m tired.  Wanna take a nap?

Congorilla: Sounds lovely.  Let’s be friends.

Starman: But, our scene isn’t over.

Congorilla: I guess we could kill time talking about drinks. 

Starman: Odds are nobody’s reading our scene anyway.  Who the fuck are we and what are we doing on the Justice League?

(Scene: Back on the rooftop.)

Hal: Wah!  I’m cold.

Ollie: Hal, you have a power ring.  You fly in space.  How can your ass possibly be cold?

Hal: Oh, I forgot.

Ollie: I think someone’s on this rooftop with us.

Hal: Is it Jason Bard, Batman’s private detective?

(Wonder Woman steps from the shadows.)

Wonder Woman: Hello, boys.  I heard what you were saying earlier about some of my friends.  So I thought I’d drop in an see what all the fuss was about.

Hal: Hell yeah.  I always wanted to bag me an Amazon princess.

(Wonder Woman reaches for her lasso.)

Ollie: Ooooo.  Kinky.

(Wonder Woman wraps the lasso around Hal.)

Hal: Hey lady, I’m not into sausage parties!

Wonder Woman: Now that you are bound in my lasso, you will be compelled to tell the truth.

Hal: Oh shit!

Wonder Woman: Have you ever had sex with any of the women you were talking about?

Hal: N-n-n-n-no!

Wonder Woman: Have you ever had sex with a woman?

Ollie: Fight it, Hal!

Hal: (sobbing) N-n-n-never!

Wonder Woman: Have you ever had sexual relations with anyone?

Ollie: Don’t answer, Hal!

Hal: “Green Arrow” and I are lovers!  Black Canary is just a beard.  Ollie pays her to keep up appearances.  Every now and then, she lets him rescue her so he can look good.

Wonder Woman: I thought so.  I’ll see you at the next League briefing.

(Wonder Woman puts away her lasso and flies away.)

Hal: Are you mad, pretty bird?

Ollie: You know I can’t quit you, Hal.

(Scene: Ray Palmer feels sorry for himself at the Flash Museum.)

Jay Garrick: What the fuck am I doing in this book.  I’m so out of here?

(Jay runs off to appear in a far better title.)

Ray Palmer: The universe hates Ray Palmer.

Ryan Choi: Hey, Ray Palnmer.  I just dropped by to make sure everyone knows you’re still the Atom.  Not me.

Ray Palmer: You’re a hero, Ryan.  I’m just Ray Palmer.

Ryan Choi: Well, I’ve said all I’m allowed to say.  I’m leaving never to be seen in a comic again until Geoff Johns needs someone to kill off in a crossover.  Remember, Ray Palmer is the Atom now.

Ray Palmer: Ray Palmer is sad.

(Freddy Freeman shpows up.)

Freddy: Hi, Ray Palmer.

Ray Palmer: Ray Palmer knows you from a long-forgotten attempt to reboot the Teen Titans.  Ray Palmer explains continuity only to dismiss it as unimportant.

Freddy: You’re a hell of a guy, Ray Palmer.

Ray Palmer: Why does flying boy come to see Ray Palmer?

Freddy: Well, Ray Palmer, I just realized I’m in this freaking book.  So I figured I’d better show up eventually.  I beat Supergirl, didn’t I?

Ray Palmer: Ray Plamer wishes flying boy would not give away last page.

Ryan Choi: Look, Ray Palmer, if everyone is just going to go on calling you “Ray Palmer” do you think maybe I could keep the name, the Atom!

Freddy: Look behind you, Ryan.

Ryan: Oh good god it’s Geoff Johns!

(Geoff Johns rips Ryan Choi to pieces and makes a hat out of his bloody caracass,

Geoff Johns: Read Green Lantern!

Ray Palmer: Ray Palmer miss rare ethnic character in comics already.

(Scene: Hal and Ollie are blocking traffic with a pile of knocked-out bad guys.)

Hal: I didn’t even break a sweat.

Ollie: That’s because we’re so awesome and they are so lame.

Hal: Kiss me, you fool!

(Ray Palmer and Freddy Freeman arrive.)

Ollie: What are you guys doing here?

Freddy: It’s almost the last page of the second issue.  Eventually, we have to be in the same place so we can all cry for justice or something.

Ollie: When you say “justice” I get moist.

Hal: You stay away.  He’s mine!

(The Javelin awakens and throws a javelin at the jealous lovers.)

(Close-up of Supergirl’s heaving bosom as the javelin shatters on her boobs.  Make sure you get a close-up of those teen boobs or I swear to god I will kill someone at DC!  I demand teenage boobies!)

Supergirl: Who throws a javelin?  Really!

Freddy: This must be the last page…

Supergirl (striking a pose) No, THIS is the last page.

(Make sure that on that last page we are looking up Supergirl’s skirt as much as possible.)


Everyone Likes Sketches

August 4, 2009

You may have liked my recent Comic Con 2009 post. Well, I recently had to upload some more sketches for reasons that may or may not involve money. So, I thought, since I went through the trouble of uploading them, I may as well post them here. So, enjoy!

Charlie Adlard’s Rick Grimes!

Darick Robertson’s Annie! NSFW

David Mack’s Echo!

Erik Larsen’s Savage Dragon!

Ethan Van Sciver’s Barry Allen!

Ethan Van Sciver’s Hal Jordan! Word balloon provided by Geoff Johns!

Joe Linsner’s Dark Ivory!

Philip Tan’s Dr. Light!

Ryan Ottley’s Atom Eve!

Todd Nauck’s Emma Frost!


My Comic Con 2009!!!

July 31, 2009

Wow! It’s already come and gone. I thought I’d just give my report on my experience. But don’t expect to see any pictures of fat, sweaty guys, dressed in 300 “costumes.” No, my Comic Con involved laughter, love, and chatting with the talent.

Sketch-A-Palooza!

Aaron Lopresti’s Wonder Woman!

Alvin Lee’s Sagat!

Amanda Conner’s Power Girl!

Cliff Chiang’s Black Canary!

Cliff Rathburn’s Reaper!

Dean Yeagle’s Mandy!

Dustin Nguyen’s Batman!

Francis Manupal’s Cassie Sandsmark!

Jamal Igle’s Silver Banshee!

Jamal Igle’s Supergirl!

Joe Linsner’s Batman!

Jonboy’s Meyers’ Wonder Woman!

Micah Gunnell’s Wolverine!

Nicola Scott’s Scandal Savage! Hey, it’s signed by Gail Simone too!

Patrick Gleason’s Arisia!

Patrick Gleason’s Soranik Natu!

Philip Tan’s Red Hood!

Sanford Greene’s Supergirl!

Terry Dodson’s Emma Frost!

19 sketches in two days, for a total of 80 dollars. Not too bad, right? I think I did good.

And you have to get stuff signed!

Now, the only signature I need on my Sinestro Corps War hardcovers is Ivan Reis.

I’m gunnin’ for ya, Reis!

Green Lantern symbols provided by Geoff Johns.

Aww, Gail Simone loves me!

And she put a Wonder Woman star over her “i”. How precious! Terry Dodson and Bernard Chang have pretty signatures too.

Terry Dodson calls Frank Cho a perv!

The war is on. Which artist will win?

Greg Rucka gave me a free copy of Detective Comics #854!

So, I was standing in line for Jamal Igle at the DC Booth, when Greg Rucka shows up next to me! We talked. I said I was sad since I didn’t have anything for him to sign. He went into his magic bag and pulled that out. Sweet, huh?

So, there you have it, friends. I had a hell of a time, and you got to see my reward for fighting through the unkempt masses. Thanks for reading!

For more comic goodness, go here.


Catwoman Gets Jealous

July 19, 2009

Sorry, this is about as random as posts get, but I’m curious. Constantly, one of the biggest reasons people come to read/RANT is because they search for “catwoman gets jealous.” Why do you search for this? When has Catwoman gotten jealous? Is this some sort of password for the Freemasons or Stonecutters? I don’t know, but please, enlighten me in our comment section. Oh, yeah, and:

Please, check out the site!

I like Catwoman. I hope Rachel Weisz does get to play her soon.


CGS Super Show Thoughts

September 8, 2008

Yesterday I got back from a nice weekend in Reading, PA hanging out with geeks aplenty, spending money I shouldn’t have and generally enjoying the hell out of myself. Here’s some highlights.

I picked up a bunch of sketches, but decided that the ones I preordered simply weren’t enough. I added two Galactus sketches to my haul, one by Dave Wachter (www.davedrawscomics.com) and one by the artist behind the Mumblepuss webcomic (www.mumblepuss.com). I also got Ken and Buz from The Living Corpse (www.corpsecomic.com). Pictures of some of the sketches (because my scanner has kicked the bucket) will be at the bottom of this article, as well as on my own blog, Musings from The Alpha Primitive.

I bought stuff. I decided to get the Tori Amos Comic Book Tattoo anthology from Image, which is a whale of a book that could easily be described as a tome. The thing is nearly a foot wide and tall, and close to two inches thick. I’ve read parts of it, and it’s gorgeous. I also picked up a signed copy of the first Mousegard hardcover with a little sketch from David Peterson in it. Haven’t cracked that one open yet; I’ll probably wait until after the move.

Wild Pig Comics was also there with 48 feet of table space full of long boxes. I grabbed issues 2-5 of Trinity, some early issues of a few Marvel Classic Illustrated stuff to try them out (Iliad and Picture of Dorian Gray), as well as some other random stuff to fill in some recent holes. And all of it was fifty cents apiece. I would honestly say that one of the only things I’m going to miss after I move is the fact that I can’t easily make it to the twice annual Wild Pig sales in northern New Jersey.

I also sat in on my first podcast, as myself and my roommate were invited to join Ian Levenstein’s Super Show episode of Comic Timing. We talked about the show for about two hours, and there was a lot of guests and madness and drinking and laughing our heads off at one in the morning in a Days Inn hotel room in Wyomissing, PA. I also threw in a little plug for read/RANT at the end there. It’ll go up as episode 72, and knowing Ian’s posting habits, it might be up by October of 2012.

Charlito (co-host of Indie Spinner Rack) performed a fifteen minute musical about Peter and Bryan of CGS. I can’t really explain it, and I don’t know if I’m ever going to be the same again.

Many other things happened, but I’m not going to write about those things. It was a great time, and a hell of a lot more fun than Wizard World Philly, so by default it was the best con of the year for me, and I can’t wait for next year.

Now, on to the sketches!

Dave Wachter’s Galactus:

The Mumblepuss Galactus:

Ken and Buz’s Mar-Vell


A Bit of Shameless Self Promotion

August 20, 2008

I’ve started my own separate WordPress blog designed to be an outlet for any and all things not comic related. Anyone that likes the way I write (especially those folks who may not agree with my opinions about the comics world) is more than welcome to check it out. My first post is about the strong ties music has to memory. It’s just a taste of what I hope to accomplish (and not abandon) in this other venture parallel to read/RANT.

I think my writing on this blog was starting to suffer. A lot of that might have to do with the stresses of an impending move (which are about to be lessened extraordinarily, as Friday is my last day at work). But I also think that I was feeling a bit unfulfilled creatively. This should help that, and hopefully my writing on all fronts will improve.

So check it out if you like. You can find it here.

We now return to your regularly scheduled comic ranty goodness.


So Here’s What I Don’t Get

August 18, 2008

DHL received my DCBS Box at 10:53 AM Friday morning at their facility in Bristol, Pennsylvania. It is a scant twenty minute drive up I 95 to get from Bristol to my door in Newtown, Pennsylvania.

So why, pray tell, is it Monday evening and I STILL DON’T HAVE MY BOOKS?!?!?

I think people are conspiring against me and don’t want me to read Final Crisis 3. That must be it. And the rest of my books are suffering for it.

Somebody’s getting a call if this doesn’t change by tomorrow. RIGHTEOUS INDIGNATION!!!! Perhaps it’s time to switch to UPS shipping.


A Slight Delay

August 15, 2008

For the first time in a non holiday week, my DCBS box didn’t show up on Friday (thanks, DHL). So that means no Final Crisis review until at least Monday night.

Sowwy.


Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 1,956 other followers