You're Custom Text Here
Wow, more Lady Killer fan art! This time from Megan Levens, who also took the time to do a new Madame Frankenstein piece as part of her #Inktober project.
Check 'em out! And be sure to watch for Megan's debut in the Buffyverse with January's issue of Buffy the Vampire Season Ten.
Josie from Lady Killer
Gail from Madame Frankenstein
Current Soundtrack: The Primitives, Spin-O-Rama
Lots of the very fine folks over at Periscope Studio have been doing Lady Killer fan art for Joëlle and I. We couldn't be more thrilled. It's so exciting to see such great artists get enthusiastic about our character.
Ron Chat - http://www.ronchan.net/wordpress/
Lukas Ketner - http://lukasketner.blogspot.com/
Cat Farris - http://www.thelastdiplomat.com/
Terry Blas - http://terryblas.com/briarhollowcomic/
Steve Lieber - http://www.stevelieber.com/
Current Soundtrack: Peter Townshend, Live > BAM 1993
The video above features a few minutes of Megan Levens talking Madame Frankenstein. Issue #7 is just a week and a half away!
Also, Megan posted a sneak peek image from our Oni Press romance comic Ares & Aphrodite that's just too darn cute.
Current Soundtrack: Andrew Montgomery, Ruled by Dreams
NOW IN THEATERS...
* John Wick, an incredibly entertaining punch-out from Keanu Reeves. This one is the real deal.
* Laggies, Lynn Shelton's engrossing dramedy about a wayward 20something. Keira Knightley shines as a woman falling behind.
* Whiplash, a drama about a driven young drummer (Miles Teller) and his incendiary coach (J.K. Simmons).
And if you live in Portland and fancy some Halloween flavor in this last week, I made a list for the Oregonian of 10 different options you have to catch some old spooky movies. I definitely recommend Ravenous and that Hammer double feature.
Current Soundtrack: Spandau Ballet, "The Story" (The Very Best Of...)
The Lady Killer solicitation is now out there, at least on the digital platforms that Diamond provides retailers; the actual catalogue is in stores on the 29th.
So, you can start telling your stores you want this book. It's in the Dark Horse Comics section. Give your retailer the order code NOV140021 to make it even easier for them to look it up.
And for lots more updates on the book, you should follow us on tumblr: Lady Killer comic book.
We'll be sharing process stuff, art old and new, and some goodies from our reference files. We're also hoping to showcase fan art and cosplay, and have created a submission option (it's up there in the left-hand corner, in that little menu they kind of hide there).
Here is our first, a pretty deadly contribution from our buddy Moritat, artist on Elephantmen and All-Star Western, amongst many other things.
Don't let him be the last! :)
Josie from Lady Killer by Moritat.
Current Soundtrack: Erasure, The Violet Flame
NOW IN THEATERS...
* 20,000 Days on Earth, a pseudo documentary ruminating on the life of singer Nick Cave.
* Evolution of a Criminal, one man's personal story about his transformation into a bank robber and the aftermath of his misdeeds.
* Fury, a WWII drama with Brad Pitt in a tank and lots of grisly violence.
* Men, Women & Children, in which Jason Reitman tries to find his feet following the forgettable Labor Day, only to step wrong again.
* St. Vincent, Bill Murray's grumpy old man movie. With a kid.
* Young Ones, a good looking but uneven drama about a future where water is hard to come by. With Michael Shannon.
And if you're in Portland, there will be 10th anniversary screenings of the No Wave music documentary Kill Your Idols.
Nick Cave eats pizza with his sons while watching Scarface in 20,000 Days on Earth.
Current Soundtrack: Tindersticks, Ypres
So excited that everyone is finally going to get a chance to see what we've been cooking up. Give a look at all of Dark Horse's January solicitations right here at CBR.
Betty Draper meets Hannibal!
Lady Killer #1 (of 5)
Joëlle Jones (W/A/Cover), Jamie S. Rich (W), and Laura Allred (C)
On sale Jan 7
FC, 32 pages
$3.50
Miniseries
Josie Schuller is a picture-perfect homemaker, wife, and mother—but she's also a ruthless, efficient killer for hire! A brand-new original comedy series that combines the wholesome imagery of early 1960s domestic bliss with a tightening web of murder, paranoia, and cold-blooded survival.
• New original series by Joëlle Jones!
• Dark comedy, gritty action, and killer laughs!
"[Jones] varies her style to suit the mood of each piece, and the results can be spellbinding."—Powell's Books
Current Soundtrack: Kele, Trick
Another quiet week at the movies. I'm still playing catch-up, for the most part, while also trying to get my future in order. That said, I am taking a bit of a sabbatical from reviewing discs for DVDTalk after I get through my current pile of very late screeners. I want to buy myself some time for other things, and so will be focusing on theatrical only for a bit. We'll see how long it lasts based on how the extra time fits me.
Meanwhile, this week, check out...
* #Stuck, a romantic comedy that struggles to maintain its great premise.
And if you're in Portland and in that Halloween mood...
* An American Werewolf in London.
* Pulse, the Japanse original and not the Hollywood remake.
Current Soundtrack: Julian Casablancas + the Voidz, Tyranny
I've been remiss in posting my film reviews for the last couple of weeks, partially because I haven't reviewed any of the major releases (though I did see The Equalizer and found it a bit silly, like a morally self-satisfied Saw movie) and because my reviews slowed while I traveled. I have a stack of 7 discs currently waiting for my perusal.
My current crop of write-ups that you can still catch in Portland theaters and elsewhere...
* The documentary Levitated Mass.
* Portland is becoming a real horror show in advance of Halloween. Here's a list of classic scary movies playing this week.
* Another scary movie, and an all-time fave of mine, is The Innocents, now on Criterion.
* I revisited Captain America: The Winter Soldier on Blu-ray.
From previous weeks...
* Portland hosted two revered X-rated movies: Midnight Cowboy and Last Tango in Paris.*
* Also, a pair of performance-based documentaries: Born to Fly and Gravity was Everywhere Back Then.
Mike Mignola's take on the Bride.
Current Soundtrack: James Ivory's Maurice
Madame Frankenstein #6 continues to get good reviews. Unleash the Fanboy raves:
Jamie S. Rich is a great writer and really shines with this issue. You face a lot of moral questions that are brought to the surface. It is really fantastic. It, also, gives Vincent a conscience, which is something that we haven’t really seen but now we do get a chance to see that part of the character and now we do.
Megan Levens is a really great artist and gives us the emotional looks and feel for this issue. I really do think that she is someone to look out for because of her ability. Each panel is packed with great stuff and you will see that in this issue.
It is, of course, in finer comic book shops everywhere. You can also download the comic from Comixology or direct from the publisher. Both options are now DRM-free.
I love how the cover turned out. So simple, yet so evocative. Take a gander at Joëlle Jones' black-and-white line art.
Joëlle is a great collaborator and always open to suggestions for what we might be looking for. After the elaborate #4 and #5 covers, I thought something more reserved would not only be fitting, but had some idea of how to capture the mood of this issue.
These posters from the film A Kiss Before Dying came to mind.
As you can see, Joëlle took the inspiration and flipped it around. It's the moment before the violent act, and this time from the man's point of view.
The male gaze, indeed.
Here it is again, as you've likely seen it, with Nick Filardi's colors, as well as an alternate choice that he eventually discarded since the previous issue's cover had been primarily blue.
I think the orange was better anywhere. It burns hotter. More passionate and threatening.
Nick has been awesome to work with, he always surprises us.
Current Soundtrack: Jamie T, Carry on the Grudge
Tomorrow is Madame Frankenstein #6 day. And if that weren't enough reason to head to the comic book store, it's also your chance to get the debut issue of Brides of Helheim, featuring art by our cover team of Joëlle Jones and Nick Filardi. Please look at this awesome preview of their comic over at CBR.
Coming Up Comics are all-in for MF. They gave the new issue a 10 out of 10.
You just don’t get stories like this every day. When you do, read them, and then read them again. When they’re this good, this deep, and this enjoyable, you don’t want to skip a moment of enjoying them. Issue by issue, more of the story has been given to us and these characters are more complicated than we had imagined. It’s truly a study on how there is no such thing as being completely bad or completely good, but human.
And for you, the first six pages of #6, just scroll through the gallery below.
Current Soundtrack: Prince, ART OFFICIAL AGE
Madame Frankenstein #6 is nearly here. Wednesday, October 1st, is nearly upon us.
We got one great review so far from What'cha Reading.
The train wreck we see coming in issue 5 is still on the horizon and Jamie has us holding our collective breath awaiting the inevitable.
In issue 6 it’s immediately clear that Vincent is losing ground with Gail, the pressures he applying and expectations she has for are just too much. And adding in the continuation of Vincent’s relationship with Linda Ruby, the woman from the carnival, we see the wheels start to come off. It’s fitting that someone so obsessed with controlling one woman should have his comeuppance instigated by a woman he can’t control.
Plus, my buddy Joe Bowen surprised us with this fantastic bit of fan art.
First, thanks for everyone who came out to Rose City Comic Con. I had a fun time, including getting choked out by Nate Quarry on my own panel.
Tim Seeley and Leila del Duca seem to be really enjoying this.
So, with that safely in the rearview mirror, I'm getting ready to head down to Long Beach Comic Con, where I am a guest of honor and everything.
Megan Levens and I will be tabling both days in Artist Alley at Table 1505. We'll have plenty of Madame Frankenstein issues for sale, including potentially an early release of #6. I'll also have a bunch of my books and free Lady Killer signing cards.
Megan will also have art and prints. If you want to inquire about getting art from her, drop her a line through her blog.
I'm currently scheduled for two panels. One is the Eat Geek Play game Geeks Against Humanity, a spin on the Cards Against Humanity Card Game. One of the other contestants will be the legendary Len Wein. That panel is Saturday at 5:30 in room 101A.
Then on Sunday I'll be part of the crime writing panel alongside lots of great writers. We will be in room 102B/C. Check it out.
How To Get Away With It: The Art of Writing Crime
Sunday at 12:30
Join Kyle Higgins, Jimmy Palmiotti, James S. Rich, Alec Siegel, and Alex Segura as they talk about the most addictive genre of writing. Learn just how far a writer has to go when coming up with the perfect crime.
That's a pretty killer line-up, no pun intended.
So, come down and get some books signed. I'm bringing mostly newer stock, so if there is something specific you want that's older, you may want to drop me a line before I pack my suitcase!
Current Soundtrack: Late Night Tales, curated by Franz Ferdinand
NOW IN THEATERS...
* A Life in Dirty Movies, the story of the Ingmar Bergman of 42nd Street, Joseph Sarno, smut peddler supreme.
* A Walk Among the Tombstones, Liam Neeson pulls out an old private detective's trench coat in a welcome departure from Taken (despite some amusing plot crossovers).
Plus, Portland folk can catch repertory screenings of the Charlton Heston-starring sci-fi actioner The Omega Man and a special one-night screening of Do The Right Thing, the inaugural entry in the "Black and White Film" series where two commenters, one white and one black, talk about the movie. In this case, comedian Sean Jordan and author/filmmaker David F. Walker. Dave also had his Shaft comic book announced this week, so that's exciting!
WATCH IT AT HOME...
* Are You Here, an uncharacteristic fumble from Mad Men-creator Matthew Weiner.
* Chef, an extremely likable return to his roots for writer/director/star Jon Favreau.
* The Rover, takes you on a trip across a violent wasteland with Guy Pearce.
* Swedish House Mafia: Leave the World Behind, a farewell tour and documentary from the international dance band.
Current Soundtrack: FKA twigs, LP1
Okay, so I'm going to be doing two cons in the next two weeks, which is a little staggering to think about at the moment, it's been a while.
But the first is in my hometown and practically right around the corner, so what the hell, yeah?
I'll be tabling at Rose City Comic Con both Saturday and Sunday. Come find me at Table G-13. I'll have lots of books with me, though mostly stuff from the last couple of years. Feel free to message me if there's anything from my older work you might be looking to get and I can bring it special. (Or, if it's something like Cut My Hair, which I'm out of, I might be able to talk Oni into being sure one is there. Emphasis on might. They're a grown woman and do what they want.)
You might also make a note that I'll be signing at the Dark Horse booth with Joëlle Jones on Saturday from 5 to 5:50. It may be Joëlle's only show signing, I am not sure. But Dark Horse is making special Lady Killer signature cards, so you'll want to get in on that.
I also have two panels. The first is on Saturday:
Back to the Gutters: Let's Talk Comics
Room: Panel Room 4
Time: 3:00PM - 3:50PMFrom part of the team that brought you From the Gutters comes a new take on the comic book panel. Join comics writer and journalist Jamie S. Rich and Ryan McCluskey as they bring their unique unique wit and perspective to a live interview format. Along with their special guests, they'll discuss the intricacies of a life in comics, both in the studio and out.
Our guests will be Tim Seeley (Revival, Grayson), Nathan Quarry (Zombie Cage Fighter, former MMA champ), Leila Del Duca (Shutter), and Jen Van Meter (The Death-Defying Dr. Mirage, Hopeless Savages.) Should be a good mix for us all to sit and chat.
Listen to Ryan McCluskey and I dish about the show on Funemployment Radio. It should be up in their archive shortly.
I'll also be the moderator for the spotlight on Matt Wagner happening on Sunday.
Spotlight: Matt Wagner
Room: Panel Room 7
Time: 1:00PM - 1:50PMWriter/artist Matt Wagner began his career in 1982 with the publication of his most well known character, Grendel. Since that time, in addition to his own creations, he has lent has talents to the likes of such notable characters as Batman and The Shadow, along with many others, and is currently pitting Grendel against the latter in an upcoming series co-published by Dark Horse and Dynamite Entertainment. Join us for a look back at Wagner's storied career, as well as current and future projects.
If I have my information correct, Matt's son Brennan, who is also his current colorist, will also be with us. Then they will sign Grendel vs. the Shadow at the Dark Horse booth after.
Speaking of Dark Horse, they are throwing the After Party on Saturday and have me lined up as one of the official attendees. You can see all the details here. Come hang out, have a drink, it'll be fun.
I look forward to seeing everyone!
Current Soundtrack: Some Kind of Wonderful soundtrack
NOW IN THEATERS...
* The 78 Project Movie, a travel documentary that explores the traditions of folk and blues recordings and challenges current musicians to take part.
* The Drop, the latest from Dennis Lehane features Tom Hardy, a pit bull puppy, and James Gandolfini in his final performance.
* I Am Not a Rock Star, the girlhood of a piano prodigy.
* The Skeleton Twins, in which Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig essentially play their usual comic personas but only after several not-so-good years.
* A Will for the Woods, a sobering documentary about one dying man's quest for a green burial.
WATCH IT AT HOME...
* All That Jazz. The '70s were a hell of a drug.
* Arrowsmith, an early John Ford talkie adapting the Sinclair Lewis novel about a heroic doctor.
* Love Streams, a ragged later-life semi-romance from John Cassavetes.
* Teenage, a docu-collage of the rise of youth culture in the 20th Century.
Left to right: Rocco, Tom Hardy
Current Soundtrack: Future Sound of London, Environments Five
The reception for Madame Frankenstein #5 has been pretty great overall. Here are a couple of reviews.
* Honored to be one of the staff picks for September on Women Write About Comics. They say:
We’re reaching the climax of this seven-issue miniseries, a reimagining of the Frankenstein story with a feminine perspective, set in the early 1930s. Levens’ black and white art is gorgeous and lively, and Rich’s story provides an interesting twist on the familiar tale.
Check out all their great picks right here. We are in very good company.
* "Krall Calls a Mulligan On Gail's Public Appearance": Great headline and a very nice review from the Outhouse.
Current Soundtrack: A.R. Rahman & Iggy Azalea, "Million Dollar Dream;" Sia, "Fair Game"
NOW IN THEATERS...
* Evergreen: The Road to Legalization, a documentary about passing the marijuana law in Washington last year. (I pair it with the new Trailer Park Boys movie, subtitled Don't Legalize It. Though, that movie's pretty much absolutely terrible.)
* The Last of Robin Hood, an attempt to dramatize and normalize the final romance of Errol Flynn. Starring Kevin Kline and Susan Sarandon.
* Love is Strange, particularly for two older men (John Lithgow and Alfred Molina) whose lives take some unexpected turns after they are married. Plus, Marisa Tomei (my favorite).
Plus, Portlanders can see Robert Altman and Robin Williams' Popeye on the big screen at Saturday and Sunday matinees.
WATCH IT AT HOME...
* Bicycling with Moliere, an engaging week of arguing theater with two older French actors.
* Une chambre en ville, one of Jacques Demy's later musicals.
* Cotton Comes to Harlem, an energetic 1970 blaxploitation picture from Ossie Davis.
* Magnificent Doll, a boring biography of Dolly Madison, starring Ginger Rogers as the first lady.
* The Party, an hilarious shindig with Peter Sellers.
* That's My Man, a plodding melodrama with Don Ameche as a horse owner with a gambling problem.
* Vengeance Is Mine, revisiting Shohei Imamura's true crime picture on Blu-ray.
Current Soundtrack: Tricky, Adrian Thaws
As Rose City Comic Con approaches, Rob McMonigal over at Panel Patter is doing a round-up of books by the guests of the show. And he began with Archer Coe & the Thousand Natural Shocks.
What starts off as a fairly straightforward noir story with a man caught up in a set of crimes he didn't commit and a woman with looks that can kill quickly morphs and changes into a plot where reality is questioned at every turn of the page and even when it finishes we aren't 100% sure of the truth of the ending. The saying about making your bed and the having to lie in fits well here. Archer may seems like a stand up guy with a stand up act, but though not a magician, swallowing the reality of his situation is going to require magic.
Rose City Comic Con is going to be September 20-21. Information is on their site.
I'll be at table G-13.
I'll also be hosting a panel on Saturday at 3 p.m.
Back to the Gutters: Let's Talk Comics
Room: Panel Room 4
Time: 3:00PM - 3:50PMFrom part of the team that brought you From the Gutters comes a new take on the comic book panel. Join comics writer and journalist Jamie S. Rich and Ryan McCluskey as they bring their unique unique wit and perspective to a live interview format. Along with their special guests, they'll discuss the intricacies of a life in comics, both in the studio and out.
- See more at: http://rosecitycomiccon.com/programming/#sthash.crLm0p12.dpuf
We're lining up guests now, with the first two being Nate Quarry and Leila Del Duca!
See you there. I'll have comics for sale, most likely just the most recent stuff. If you have a special request, particularly for my prose novels, drop me a line and we can set up my bringing them for you.
After that, it's Long Beach the next weekend!
Current Soundtrack: The Smiths, Strangeways Here We Come
Madame Frankenstein #5 is on sale today. The one where the monster goes to a Jazz Age party. You can find it in your favorite comic book store.
Digital versions include Comixology and also from the publisher.
The issue got a really fantastic review from Johanna Draper Carlson over Comics Worth Reading.
The craft is outstanding, with Jamie S. Rich’s dialogue revealing so much in just a few sentences, and Megan Levens’ art delineating the cast wonderfully. The slender Gail is perfectly suited for the fashions of the period, nicely done details, and she contrasts in more than one way with the plumper, earthier showgirl Linda.
And then hop over to the Coming Up Comics blog for their review:
Jamie and Megan have created this story that reads like a play. It’s getting you invested in these characters to the point where you wish you could just ask them all to stop before something bad happens. The bad happening seems all but inevitable at this point however. Like I said in my past reviews, it’s very rare for me, while reading a story, to have so many conflicting emotions and they’ve all happened in only five issues.
If you’re a fan of great storytelling and wonderful artwork that will transport you back in time you must go get this.
Nice, huh?
More informative, maybe, is Unleash the Fanboy who makes sure we know that Megan blows
your mind.
Sorry. Couldn't resist. :)
Current Soundtrack: The National, Trouble Will Find Me
