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Another developmental drawing by Megan Levens for Madame Frankenstein.
Gail and the fairy
Hopefully these teases are working to get you on board. Here's the order info for #1 again in case you need it. Tomorrow, April 14, is the last day to help us nudge our preorder numbers up.
Thanks!
Current Soundtrack: The Replacements, Don't You Know Who I Think I Was? - The Best of the Replacements
NOW IN THEATERS...
* Cheap Thrills, a dark but empty movie about a lucrative game of dare and dare.
* Draft Day, a surprisingly affecting comedy about backroom football deals starring Kevin Costner.
* Jodorowsky's Dune, a winning documentary about a movie that never was and the meaning of creation.
* Joe, a return to form for both Nicolas Cage and director David Gordon Green.
* The New Rijksmuseum, a documentary that feels as long as the ten years it takes to renovate the Amsterdam museum.
* The Raid 2: Berandal, a bloated sequel to the violent Indonesian action flick.
* Under the Skin, an artful and compelling sci-fi film starring Scarlett Johansson and directed by Jonathan Glazer.
* The Unknown Known, a one-on-one documentary with Donald Rumsfeld.
If you're in Portland, you can also catch the Ray Harryhausen adventure classic Jason and the Argonauts.
Or if you're a Criterion fan, Orson Welles' little-seen 1968 literary adaptation The Immortal Story is on Hulu.
Current Soundtrack: Wilko Johnson/Roger Daltrey - Going Back Home
As we continue our run-up to the release of Madame Frankenstein #1, here's a new interview with Megan Levens and myself about the book. This time, we talk to Lan Pitts for Newsarama about the themes of the comic, our working relationship, and what the future holds.
We also got a really nice review from the Outhousers:
Megan Levens' art is evocative of early horror movies with generous wide-shots and striking line-work giving depth to each panel. It’s a great team-up by Rich and Levens to see Dr. Krall run a full range of emotions in just a few short panels. I also was a big fan of the language used to really give it the feeling of the late 19th century. The dynamic between Dr. Krall and Gail is compelling as he tries to adjust her to normal life, doing everything he can to create his perfect woman.
Here's the second half of that page from yesterday, just for kicks.
Current Soundtrack: Jay-Z, "I Know"
Lots of big things happening in my comic book world this week, so let's do one big post.
May 3 come see myself, Joëlle Jones, and Mike Norton at Zeus Comics in Dallas, TX, to celebrate Free Comic Book Day. If all goes well, I'll have advance copies of Madame Frankenstein #1.
Speaking of, here is another sneak peek of the book. Remember, orders are due to comic shops by this coming Monday, April 14. That's when Image Comics will set the print run. So far, the response has been phenomenal, for which Megan Levens and I both thank you, but please don't hesitate to let your favorite comic book shop know you're interested and encourage them to order heavy. The stronger the start, the better we have to build from.
Image has also added a series page to their website.
Power to the monster! Two panels from Madame Frankenstein #1.
Comixology has the first two chapters of Archer Coe & the Thousand Natural Shocks available as $0.99 downloads. We'll be updating their site with a new chapter every Tuesday and Thursday for the next six weeks, totalling 14 chapters in all, until the whole thing is online. The story was always intended to be serialized online, so reading it this way, you'll get the full cliffhanger effect.
Subscribe to the whole series.
And don't forget you can order the print version from your local comics retailer.
Digital chapter head for the Comixology version of Archer Coe & the Thousand Natural Shocks.
Dark Horse Presents #35 is on sale next Wednesday, featuring the final chapter of “Integer City.” This is the opening page. I wrote the story, Brent Schoonover created the line art, Jean-Francois Beaulieu colored it, and Crank! lettered it. It was a lot of fun to create, and the response seemed positive.
And e-mail dhp@darkhorse.com to let them know you want to see this story collected and continued. Mark it “okay to print” if you don’t mind being in their letters column.
Opening page from "Integer City" chapter 6, the big finale, coming in Dark Horse Presents #35, April 16.
Current Soundtrack: A playlist of Neptunes productions on Spotify
Archer Coe is at a loss for words wondering why you haven't ordered Archer Coe & the Thousand Natural Shocks from your favorite comic book retailer or bookstore yet.
Dan Christensen, the artist on the graphic novel, had a big update to his blog today, talking Archer Coe and also other projects. Of note: the fact that the book is going to be serialized on Comixology starting this Tuesday, April 8. Twice weekly updates until the whole thing is done. So, two months of Archer Coe!
This is actually how I originally intended the book to be read. At the time I was writing it, Oni Press had plans to start serializing comics weekly on their website. So, much like A Boy and a Girl, I wrote Archer Coe & the Thousand Natural Shocks as series of bite-sized chapters, using the format in a kind of old-fashioned cliffhanger manner. I'm curious to hear what people who read it in this way end up thinking about it!
Current Soundtrack: Kaiser Chiefs, Education, Education, Education & War
NOW IN THEATERS...
* Captain America: The Winter Soldier, an excellent second mission for Marvel's most vanilla hero.
* Ernest and Celestine, the adorable Academy Award-nominated animated feature from France.
* The Face of Love, a mature drama about romance and grief starring Annette Bening and Ed Harris.
* The Great Flood, a fascinating abstract documentary about the Mississippi floods of 1927, soundtrack by Bill Frisell.
* In the Blood, a very much not at all good action picture with Haywire-star Gina Carano beating up more bad guys. And a few maybe-not-so-bad ones, too.
This weekend Portlanders also have an opportunity to catch Orson Welles' film noir twister The Lady from Shanghai.
And next Thursday, the one-man show Romantic Macabredy: Short Films of Dave Hanagan, a collection of cinematic pranks and genre subversions.
WATCH IT AT HOME...
* The Great Beauty, last year's scintillating Oscar-winner from Italy, showing an aging author searching for meaning. Nope, nothing to identify with here.
* Sleep, My Love, a romantic suspense film from Douglas Sirk, master of melodrama.
* Young at Heart, pairing Doris Day and Frank Sinatra to blend some of her nice with his naughty.
Current Soundtrack: Lewis Black on WTF with Marc Maron
A little more Madame Frankenstein press to whet your whistle. The book's release is just a little over a month away. We head to press next week. Expect to hear about some appearances being made by Megan and I to promote the book very soon.
Until then...
* Megan talks to Tim O'Shea about the book over at Robot 6, where they also share the evolution of the look of the monster seen here.
* Johanna Draper Carlson gives us one of her usual thoughtful reviews on Comics Worth Reading.
* Comics Should Be Good spotlights the book as part of their "Month of Women in Comics."
Here's a little sneak at panels from Madame Frankenstein #2, as well. Our cameo by Harry Houdini.
Current Soundtrack: These New Puritans, Field of Reeds
NOW IN THEATERS...
* Enemy: It's Jake Glyllenhaal vs. Jake Gyllenhaal in a fight to own all the vowels. Intriguing, though overstates its own flaws.
* The Lunchbox, a subdued romance from India will likely be the best love story we see this year.
* Southern Baptist Sissies, a filmed performance of the award winning play.
* Stranger by the Lake, an erotic thriller from France that mostly runs cold.
Portland audiences also have a chance to see Burt Lancaster's favorite movie he starred in, The Swimmer, based on a John Cheever story. The screenings will have his youngest daughter in attendance.
Also, a local showcase, the German expressionist parody Ich Hunger.
WATCH IT AT HOME...
* The Lady in Question, teaming Rita Hayworth and Glenn Ford in a light comedy several years before Gilda.
* The Miracle Woman, a religious morality play starring Barbara Stanwyck and directed by Frank Capra.
* Paradise: Faith. The second round in Ulrich Seidl's Bummer Trilogy.
* Repo Man, they say punk never dies, but it certainly can age.
Current Soundtrack: Sia, "Chandelier"
Megan Levens created a bunch of test drawings for the pitch package that we gave to Image Comics to convince them to publish Madame Frankenstein. These are a few of them.
Click on the images to scroll through the gallery.
And don't forget, it really helps the publisher and your local comic book store if you tell them that you want the book before it's released. Here is all the info you need to take to your retailer to have them order Madame Frankenstein for you.
Current Soundtrack: Pharrell Williams, G I R L
You only live once, so go for it!
Since neither Natalie Nourigat nor I will be at Emerald City Comic Con this weekend, we’re having a sale in our joint webstore. All books and all of Natalie’s art will be 10% with the coupon code NOECCC.
http://confessions123.com/shop/
This sale will be in effect until 11:59 pm on Sunday, March 30.
All books come signed!
CURRENT SOUNDTRACK: Classixx, "All You're Waiting For (feat. Nancy Chan)"
Oni Press has announced their upcoming slate of titles for the next twelve months or so. Lots of great stuff, check out the whole thing right here.
In amongst the list is mine and Megan Levens’ romantic comedy Ares & Aphrodite, which she is drawing and coloring. We are chasing the classic horror style of Madame Frankenstein with our ode to the rom-coms of golden-age Hollywood. The official description is below the image:
ARES & APHRODITE
2015
A new original graphic novel by Jamie S. Rich and Megan Levens! Will Ares is a successful divorce lawyer — which means, invariably, that he’s always pissing someone off. He’s also a hopeless romantic (go figure). Gigi Averelle is a wedding planner who’s seen enough failed marriages to know that true love doesn’t exist. And with their respective clients — movie producer Evans Beatty and Hollywood starlet Carrie Cartwright — getting hitched, Will and Gigi are about to see a whole lot more of each other. As Beatty’s ex-wives come out of the woodwork and cause mayhem for the upcoming marriage, Gigi proposes a bet — should Evans and Carrie go through with the wedding, Gigi will go on a date with Will. Should they break up, as Gigi suspects, Will must put a full-page ad in the paper revealing the number of marriages he’s ruined. Is Will a fool for love, or is this the start of a beautiful relationship?
*
Current Soundtrack: my This is My Jam feed
NOW IN THEATERS...
* Bad Words, the meaner side of Jason Bateman.
* Breadcrumb Trail, director Lance Bangs search for the secret origins of indie rockers Slint.
* Elaine Stritch: Shoot Me, a documentary following the Broadway star as she prepares a one-woman show.
* Far from Vietnam, a resurrected protest film from the 1960s, put together by Chris Marker, and featuring work by Agnes Varda, William Klein, Alain Resnais, Jean-Luc Godard, and more.
* Muppets Most Wanted, a sequel of diminishing returns, but still fun to watch.
Portlanders also have one opportunity to see the marvelous Russian Ark on the big screen.
WATCH IT AT HOME...
* A Brief History of Time, Erroll Morris' biographical documentary about Stephen Hawking.
* What Price Hollywood? the prototype of Tinsel Town tales, from George Cukor, released 1932.
Current Soundtrack: A Bad Boy Entertainment playlist on Spotify
The Double Life of Miranda Turner #3 is available for download tomorrow (Wednesday, March 19). Get it from Comixology here.
Preview all the Monkeybrain titles for the day right here. Or click on the image below to go through the preview gallery right here!
Current Soundtrack: Kylie Minogue, Kiss Me Once
Did you know there was a Madame Frankenstein Facebook page? If you're on Facebook, please give us your thumbs up!
Also, Image Comics has released their June solicitations. It includes Madame Frankenstein #2, featuring this amazing cover by Joëlle Jones and Nick Filardi.
MADAME FRANKENSTEIN #2 (OF 7)
story: JAMIE S. RICH
art: MEGAN LEVENS
cover: JOELLE JONES & NICK FILARDI
JUNE 4 / 32 PAGES / BW / T+ / $2.99
Now that he has built his creature, Vincent has to start teaching her how to be a lady. Meanwhile, his rival, feeling guilty over the death of their mutual love, begins to investigate what’s going on down at the lab.
Current Soundtrack: Mos Def & Marvin Gaye, Yasiin Gaye: The Departure
Multiversity Comics gave us a really swell advance review on Madame Frankestein #1. You can read the whole piece here, but here is an excerpt.
Barring a few pacing issues, “Madame Frankenstein” is a fun read that demonstrates an understanding of what makes the horror classics so great. At the same time, it’s still very much its own comic, mixing in new elements and maintaining a solid emotional center. This is a re-interpretation of an old story that lives and breathes.
We've also got some nice feedback from other creators, including The Sixth Gun and Magneto writer Cullen Bunn, who says, "Madame Frankenstein is great Gothic fun! You need to put this on your radar!"
Also, my bud Eric M. Esquivel, who is behind BOOM! Studios' superfun Loki, Ragnarok 'n' Roll: "Some of the most hauntingly beautiful comics I've ever had the pleasure of reading. And creepy as Hell."
Remember, order cut-off for making sure your comic book store has a copy of Madame Frankenstein #1 for you on release day is April 14, which is just around the corner. Download this handy order coupon.
Original layout for the Diamond Previews spread from Image.
Current Soundtrack: Phantogram, Voices
Dark Horse Presents #34 is on sale this coming Wednesday, 3/19. It features the fifth chapter of "Integer City." Only one more left to go!
As always, art is by the excellent team of Brent Schoonover, Jean-Francois Beaulieu, and Crank.
Did you see Brent's amazing work in the digital Adventures of Superman issue last week? He collaborated with Joe Keatinge, Ming Doyle, and Nick Filardi. Download Adventures of Superman #46 via Comixology.
Current Soundtrack: Jessie Ware, Devotion
NOW IN THEATERS...
* The Grand Budapest Hotel, Wes Anderson's new one is a lovely place to visit, and I really wish I lived there.
* Maidentrip, an endearing documentary about the Dutch girl who became the youngest person to sail around the world alone.
* Need for Speed forgets to pump its story's tires, but I suppose is fine as a car chase flick.
Portland, you also have the opportunity to catch revivals of 2001: A Space Odyssey and the original That Darn Cat! Both are very much worth the time.
WATCH IT AT HOME...
* Camille Claudel 1915, featuring a very sad Juliette Binoche.
* Inside Llewyn Davis, the latest Coen Bros. invention hits this writer pretty close to home.
* Treme: The Complete Third Season, a brief look back at the penultimate chapter of this great television series.
Current Soundtrack: Pharrell Williams, G I R L
Check this out. Jason Storey and the awesome marketing folks over at Oni Press put together an Archer Coe & the Thousand Natural Shocks order form that you can take to your local comic book store. The book is at the printer now, so you can order with full confidence.
You can download the form from their original Tumblr post, too, and maybe consider reblogging it or hitting "like" to help spread the word!
Current Soundtrack: Johnny Foreigner, You Can Do Better
NOW IN THEATERS...
At least some places.
* Detroit Unleaded, a rom-com set in Michigan's Lebanese community.
* A pair of self-portraits at the NW Film Center.
Or you can just track down Five Fingers starring James Mason as a traitorous spy in WWII. What can I say? It's been a slow week.
Current Soundtrack: Blood Red Shoes, Blood Red Shoes
The Double Life of Miranda Turner #3 is now available for preorder from Comixology.
Sign up now and have it delivered to your digital locker on March 19!
This one finishes up the story begun in #2, and sets us up for a really big #4--reliving the night Lindy Turner died!
As per usual, my awesome collaborators on this book are co-creator George Kambadais, colorist Paulina Ganucheau, and letter Crank! We are published by the good people over at Monkeybrain.
Current Soundtrack: The Horrors, "I See You"
