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Blog Archives: July 2007
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DWELL IN DUST!
Over the last several years comic books have risen to a prominence in the mainstream media. This isn't limited to the endless list of titles turned into blockbuster films, but celebrities from Rosario Dawson to Claudio Sanchez to Robert Rodriguez have revealed aspirations to work in the funnybook field.
The newest celebrities to break into comics are longtime Versace illustrator, Paolo Parente, and world famous music video director, mink. Either of them could easily work in whatever medium they chose, but they came to Image Comics and 12 Gauge Studios to bring their latest creation, DUST, to the masses.
DUST begins in 1938 as World War II explodes around the planet. The struggle between Axis and Allies seems to be coming to an end until the Axis discover an alien spacecraft with working technology that completely turns the tide of battle. We pick up during the fall of 1946 - the world is not as it was. The Axis is about to unleash their a doomsday weapon on the Allies' from Earth's orbit. With the clock ticking, our heroes - Koshka and Joseph - mount an almost certain suicide mission to stop them once and for all. Can they be stopped by the Axis armies of zombies and cybernetic apes?
Find out as DUST #1 hits the stands 07/25.
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A STAR IS REBORN!
When I was around 12 years old I found out that every single comic book artist owed something to a guy named Jack Kirby.
Before this revelation I only had a passing idea of who he was. However, it was sadly limited, I wasn't sure of much outside of the fact that he created the Fantastic Four. All I positive on was the need to find out more. I took the twenty dollar gift certificate I was given to my local shop, Hi De Ho Comics in Santa Monica, CA and asked what books I could buy by "The King". The retailer was pleasantly surprised by my request and walked me through their back issue bins to see what reader copies they had.
After around a half an hour he decided that the beginning of Jack's run on Jimmy Olsen was the way to go.
My young mind was blown away.
This wasn't like any other Jimmy Olsen I had ever seen. Jimmy was surrounded by giant gods, underground scientists and inventions that could never be realized in our mundane world. These comics transcended the medium and were like historic documents into an alternate universe consisting of pure imagination.
I wanted more.
Ever since then I've consumed all the Kirby I could find. Any time an omnibus or new collection hit the stands it was in my hands. I spent a lot of time digging through a lot of back issue bins to complete my collection. As I found out quickly trying to complete a collection of Kirby comics is impossible. The guy created so much that it's impossible to ever have it all. Even all these years later I feel like I've only scratched the surface. There was way too much out there.
Case in point - I just finished my advance copy of our new SILVER STAR hardcover.
SILVER STAR tells the story of Morgan Miller who, during his tour of duty in Vietnam, turns the tide of battle by surprisingly throwing a tank over his head. If this didn't shock his fellow soldiers enough, a metallic armor covered his body in the aftermath. No one on the medical staff could make heads or tails out of what happened. Even Morgan couldn't be consulted as the event threw him into a massive coma. All they could see was that, when x-rayed, Morgan's body was filled with stars.
That's just the first part. A haunting dream sequence reveals more about Miller's bizarre metamorphosis. Specifically, we find out it wasn't an accident.
And there are others like him.
Yet again, I was blown away.
I had never read the book before and I'm kinda glad I didn't. The experience of the book is akin to initially seeing a classic film on IMAX. This new edition is printed on beautiful paper and bound in the highest quality hardcover possible. Considering the effort Pacific Comics put into upgrading the quality of the original issues stock it's a perfect final version. It's also filled with extras that put other hardcovers to shame. While there are the standard sketchbook and alternate cover sections, it also includes Jack's original SILVER STAR screenplay and proposal for the book.
Even if your Kirby collection is miraculously near complete, you can never get enough of the King.
Look for it this Wednesday.
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MONSTER BY MOONLIGHT!
After this year's Free Comic Book Day, over a hundred thousand fans were on the edge of their seats after reading the first issue of Robert Kirkman and Jason Howard's THE ASTOUNDING WOLF-MAN. This Wednesday, the wait for more will finally be over. As I've mentioned before, it's an insane issue. The ending alone will change the way you view everything about this series. In typical Kirkman fashion, the status quo is never what you expected.
The same day #2 hits stores, we're also releasing a Director's Cut of the first issue. The book is crammed with extras such as afterword by Kirkman and a look into the process of creating Wolf-Man. You'll get to see just how Kirkman and Howard developed the series' lead and his supporting cast. It's a great way to check out how some of the industry's best concoct their creations.
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