Month: February 2023

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Aspen Universe: Revelations #1 cover by Jordan Gunderson

Artist Jordan Gunderson has worked on such books as Warhammer 40000:Defenders of Ultramar, executive Assistant: Assassins, The four Points, and more. His new project is Aspen’s game changing series, Aspen Universe: Revelations with writers Joshua Hale Fialkov and J.T. Krul. Westfield’s Roger Ash contacted Gunderson to learn more about this exciting new series.

Westfield: Aspen Universe: Revelations is a big story. Did you find the prospect of working on it at all intimidating?

Jordan Gunderson: Honestly, not really. It’s the big, world-building stories that I tend to gravitate towards and this one was no exception. Previously, I had worked on The four points for Aspen Comics, which was a world that needed a lot of design and character creation itself. I kind of see it as a challenge for myself to go into these big stories and create the world as I interpret it from the script and notes I have been given. once the first characters are turned in and the creative team is able to hone in on the feel and aesthetics that they should have, it is that much easier to move on and create other things that fit cohesively into the world. The part of this story that I found really intriguing was that I would be utilizing creations that Michael Turner had brought to life over 13 years ago. I would still get to put my own creative spin on them, but fans will also get to see that characters from Fathom and Soulfire that they love and recognize.

Steigerwald

Aspen Universe: Revelations #1 cover by Peter Steigerwald

Westfield: What sort of prep work did you do to get ready for the series?

Gunderson: We had a good amount of lead time going into this project, so with it I was able to start fleshing out details of the upcoming comic in advance. This would involve multiple character design passes that were getting modified and having revisions done as the creative team saw fit. Also, I would be generating sketches of locations that would be prevalent in the book as well as items and pieces the characters would be interacting with during the series. The apocalyptic future setting of the book really enabled us to open the flood gate to all kinds of ideas early on and see what worked and what didn’t.

Westfield: Is there anything you can tell us about the story?

Gunderson: The story starts off on an legendary scale, as you get to see the devastation wrought on a planet without water.  Aspen, the heroine from Fathom, now faces this new world alone. She must embark on a quest that will not only span time but also encounter magic unlike she has ever seen. This is the setting for the two worlds of Fathom and Soulfire to converge. Characters from both the universes will clash and unite in this series, so fans of both comics will get a chance to see the characters they love again. I don’t want to give too much away, but I think people will definitely be hooked once they get a taste of Worlds of Aspen 2016.

Preview art for Worlds of Aspen 2016

Westfield: Are you enjoying drawing the Fathom and Soulfire characters?

Gunderson: I really am! At the start of my career, when I was still going out to conventions and submitting my interior art to various companies, Aspen’s Fathom and Soulfire is what I was reading at the time and really influenced the beginnings of my artistic journey. So, to be on a book were I am drawing the characters that really got me into the whole picture game in the first place is really amazing!

Aspen Universe: Revelations #1 cover by Paolo Pantalena

Westfield: You’re working with writers Joshua Hale Fialkov and J.T. Krul on the series. What can you say about your collaboration with them?

Gunderson: These two writers are really top notch. I have been a fan of J.T.’s writing for a long time and Joshua has really exploded on the scene and has a variety of outstanding titles to his credit. So, being able to work with both these gentlemen is a real pleasure. having both of them adding their own unique touches to the Revelations story has been terrific to see behind the scenes when the scripts show up in my inbox. I think the fans will really enjoy the story that they are crafting and I look forward to every new script I see.

Westfield: any closing comments?

Worlds of Aspen 2016 FCBD cover and process sketches by Gunderson.

Gunderson: Worlds of Aspen 2016 drops on free Comic book Day, Saturday, may 7th. The ensuing crossover event, Aspen Universe: Revelations will be out in July, so if people like what they see and read on free Comic book Day, the following issues are not too far behind. fans of the art or people who are curious about seeing more of the art that I create can check out both The Art of Jordan Gunderson Facebook page or Jordan Gunderson picture on Instagram.  I would like to thank Westfield Comics for holding a terrific event and you, Roger, for setting up this interview. many thanks!

Purchase

Aspen Universe: Revelations #1

While the core event is truly dark, we’ve seen a mix of tones in the tie-ins so far. Spider-Woman leaned a lot more on the dark while Black feline went a lot more towards the adventure. as well as then the Immortal Hulk one-shot was just delightful. however now, in Week five in King in Black, we have two tie-ins with two extremely different tones. One comic seems not sure of itself, wanting to be nostalgic, dark, as well as adventurous, however never rather landing on them. The other features physician Doom punching Santa Claus in the face. Let’s begin there.

Week five of King in Black Delivers a 2nd Christmas special in Iron Man/Doctor Doom

The sweetest thing physician Doom has ever stated to someone. (Image: King in Black: Iron Man/Doctor Doom #1, marvel Comics)

While King in Black: Iron Man/Doctor Doom is not as creative as King in Black: Immortal Hulk, it saves Week five by just being unapologetically weird. It starts truly depressing. Eddie Brock just died—and it appears like Iron guy may have inadvertently killed him with his symbiote extremis suit. While he’s feeling down, sitting on the roofing of their hideout, physician Doom shows up to, as well as I’m not kidding, comfort Tony Stark. Seriously, Doom provides Tony a pep talk.

And if that’s not odd enough, they have to team as much as fight a Knull-ified Santa Claus as well as all of his reindeer too. The entire time, Doom is trying to discover some rational reason for Santa’s appearance, though Tony reminds him that they are currently on a world covered in black alien goo. Doom’s final idea, which I hope is canon, Sant need to have, at some point, been the Sorcerer Supreme. If this represents exactly how Christopher Cantwell composes his Iron Man, I’ll requirement to catch up on that series. Now, his sense of hope saved by potentially satisfying the genuine Santa, as well as Doom’s words, Tony’s prepared to handle Knull.

How did this comic work? No idea, however it was great.

King in Black: Namor #2 is nearly as Useless As the very first Issue

Something nearly really occurred this issue! (Image: King in Black: Namor #2, marvel Comics)

In King in Black #2, we discover that part of Tony Stark’s plan to defeat Knull includes Namor as well as this trick danger he’s kept hidden for years: The Black Tide. However, in King in Black: Namor #1, we satisfied the Swift Tide, a group of badass sub-aquatic women. In problem two, they ended up being the Black Tide, however not up until the extremely end as well as after a great deal of needless exposition. The very first two problems of King in Black: Namor might have been the very first ten pages of one issue. As it is, the tie-in series has as lots of problems as the core series. That just isn’t necessary. What I’m expecting now, considering that we lastly satisfied the Black tide in King in Black Week Five, is that the staying three problems have some seriousness to them.

Need a lot more Symbiote Dragons?

Then inspect out the previous weeks’ write-ups below.

Month One: December

First Week

Second Week

Third Week

Fourth Week

(Featured Image: King in Black: Iron guy as well as physician Doom #1, marvel Comics)

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KC Carlson

a KC COLUMN by KC Carlson

Lockjaw didn’t make the cover of #45, however right here he is on the cover of great four #46

If you like dogs, there’s a strange number of comics out this week starring Man’s finest buddy — not the least of which is the new Lockjaw #1. Lockjaw is the exceptionally over-sized canine-looking Inhuman who’s been with the group considering that their debut method back in great four #45 (December 1965). (Although both Medusa (Fantastic four #36) as well as Gorgon (Fantastic four #44) really appeared earlier.)

The thing #4

For lots of years, in early marvel continuity, it was believed that Lockjaw was just a pet dog — a teleporting dog, sure, however still a dog. Then, in a story in The thing #3 & 4 (1983), it was exposed that Lockjaw was not a dog, however an actual humanoid mutant who progressed into a pet dog — as well as might really speak. Later, in X-Factor #71-72 (1991), it was exposed that the previous thing story was all just a hoax on Ben perpetrated by Karnak as well as Gorgon. Oh, those goofy Inhumans!

For the record, as well as thankfully, Lockjaw has been mainly dog-like — for an Inhuman dog, anyway — ever since.

THEY ALL have AN ITCH THEY just GOTTA SCRATCH!

Lockjaw as well as the Pet Avengers #1

Lockjaw’s even starred in his own miniseries before (albeit with some friends!). Lockjaw as well as the Pet Avengers was a four-issue miniseries in 2009 written by Chris Eliopoulos, drawn by Ig Guara, as well as with covers by Karl Kerschl as well as others. The teleporting Lockjaw gathers an all-animal team, including Lockheed the dragon (Kitty Pryde’s friend), Redwing (the Falcon’s friend), Hairball (aka Niels the cat, belonging to Speedball), as well as an all-new Thor Frog! as well as that’s just the very first issue! When charged with collecting the Infinity Gems, they requirement even a lot more assist — encountering warm fuzzies like Zabu, Ka-Zar’s saber-toothed tiger, to assist battle Devil Dinosaur. That’s just a warm-up to battling the killer whale Giganto under the sea!

After they scratched/pawed/clawed/gnawed their method throughout all existence, the Pet Avengers returned (as did creators Chris Eliopoulos as well as Ig Guara) in 2010’s Lockjaw as well as the Pet Avengers Unleashed. Besides Frog Thor as well as the Mighty Thor, there’s really a foe so big that he won’t even in shape on the cover of problem #4!

Lockjaw as well as the Pet Avengers: Unleashed

There are some incredible variant covers for these series by artists including Roger Langridge, Skottie Young, Scott Kurtz, as well as Takeshi Miyazawa — so if you’re tempted, be sure to find the collections (available in both hard- as well as softcover)! In addition to all the cover images, the very first series collection even includes the marvel family pets Handbook, which is chock full of facts, as well as perhaps a bit fur.

GOING SOLO?

Lockjaw #1

So, out today, is Lockjaw #1 (of 4). (The actual title may be: Lockjaw: Who’s a great Boy?) Written by Daniel Kibblesmith (with that name, he was born to compose about dogs!), as well as illustrated by Carlos Villa. Lockjaw teams with D-Man to deal with down Annihillus, Lord of the unfavorable Zone!

The cover for the upcoming Lockjaw #3

Among the marvel characters Lockjaw encounters while attempting to round-up his siblings as well as sisters (?!?) are Ka-Zar as well as Sabu!, Peter Porker, Spider-Ham!, as well as the Avengers B.C.! (What?!? I hope that doesn’t indicate British Columbia!)

For even a lot more Lockjaw, inspect out his guest appearances in Monsters Unleashed #11 & 12 as well as recent problems of Black Bolt! He was likewise assisting out Ms. marvel a few problems back in her series – there’s nothing like a teleporting pet dog when you requirement a snack as well as a caffeine hit from your preferred regional coffee spot!

_________________________________

KC CARLSON SEZ: For a lot more dogs, this week likewise sees the publication of The Ruff as well as prepared show #5 (of 6) as well as Scooby-Doo Team-Up #35 (guest-starring Yogi Bear, who, for the record, is NOT a dog). Moon woman as well as Devil Dinosaur #28 is likewise out this week. As routine visitors know, Devil frequently acts a lot more like a pet dog than a dinosaur… as does Deadpool some days, however perhaps not in this week’s Spider-Man Deadpool #28.

WESTFIELD COMICS is not accountable for the silly things that KC says. particularly that thing that truly irritated you. I’m kinda irritated that I’m having difficulty differentiating between dogs as well as dinosaurs (and Deadpools) this week. I blame the Letter D as well as desire Sesame street to put Letter D on Double-Secret Drobation up until the genuine Derpetrator is Dound. Dikes! D’s dre dttacking dhe Dlog! Delp!!!

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July 5, 2012, Mt. Laurel, NJ – This coming October, Dynamite is proud to release the complying with three astounding calendars: Warlord of Mars 2013 calendar by Joe Jusko, Jungle woman 2013 calendar by Frank Cho, as well as The Tolkien Art of the siblings Hildebrandt 2013 Calendar!  Each calendar is 24 pages while measuring 12″ x 12″, all for the unbelievably low cost of $14.99!

Warlord of Mars 2013 calendar by Joe Jusko

For October shipping, comes the Warlord of Mars 2013 calendar by Joe Jusko! begin 2013 with a trip to Mars! This full color calendar features incredible art by Joe Jusko from the hit Warlord of Mars comic books.

Jungle woman 2013 calendar by Frank Cho

For October shipping is the Jungle woman 2013 calendar by Frank Cho!  This 2013 calendar features lovely art by Frank Cho featuring Jungle Girl!  This calendar is full of whatever Cho fans want to see!

The Tolien Art of the siblings Hildebrandt 2013 Calendar

In July 2012, we have advance solicited The Tolkien Art of the siblings Hildebrandt 2013 calendar for October shipping!  when more, from the wonderful world of Middle-Earth. Greg Hildebrandt has selected 14 pieces of original art from the 1976, 1977, as well as 1978 J.R.R. Tolkien calendars originally produced for Ballantine Books. 37 years ago, Greg and Tim dove into Tolkien’s legendary The Lord of the Rings with all the interest they might potentially have mustered. Their art set a common of what the world saw as The Lord of the Rings. Today, this art is still understood as well as liked world-wide. This calendar represents an excellent look at a few of the very best of The siblings Hildebrandt Tolkien art.

A look inside The Tolkien Art of the siblings Hildebrandt 2013 calendar

The Hildebrandts are finest understood for their prominent The Lord of the Rings calendar illustrations, painting the very first bilingual star Wars film poster, illustrating comics for marvel Comics as well as DC Comics, original oil paintings for a restricted edition of Terry Brooks’s The Sword of Shannara, as well as their Magic: The gathering as well as Harry Potter illustrations for Wizards of the Coast.

We’re proud to release our line of Dynamite Calendars featuring excellent art for fans to enjoy all year long!  Make sure to get these calendars to ensure that you can have a “Dynamite” 2013!

“LIKE” DYNAMITE’S FACEBOOK page TODAY!!!

Join the conversation on Dynamite Entertainment’s twitter page at

For art as well as more information, please visit: www.dynamite.net

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“See my finger, see my thumb, see my genre, you better run!”

by beau Smith

Superhero Genre

BEAU FACT: The superhero genre has ruled our comic book world for decades. Sales-wise, it has been king sine the 1960s. It’ finally made it’s way to the film industry as well and will continue until there is a five year span of grapevine box office tankers.

Horror Genre

BEAU FACT: The horror genre has become the second most reputable source of genre sales. It was the controversy king in the 1950s with EC Comics, faltered a bit through the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s, but since 2000 has made a strong comeback and unlike superhero comic books, it hasn’t been limited to just marvel and DC Comics.

Crime Genre

BEAU FACT: The crime genre seems to fall into third place within comic books. crime seems to find a better home within the non-Marvel and DC publishing houses. crime comics are also easier to become vital darlings within independent publishers and with the limited comic book online media. higher profile crime comics seem to come from former marvel and DC writers that find crime their chance to “make their own movie” within the printed pages of comics. You can usually sense what crime films and novels have influenced them when you read their crime comics.

Science Fiction Genre

BEAU FACT: The science fiction genre once held the same sales and popular platform as horror comics in the 1950s and 60s. A lot of this was due to the success of science-fiction films in the 1950s and early 60s. Pre-50s there was also a substantial sub-culture movement of sci-fi novels that influenced and inspired many now iconic writers. As the comic book market narrowed in the 1960s, sci-fi comics were also slimmed down in popularity and production. now days you can still find some good sci-fi as it comes in under the guise of horror.

Western Genre

BEAU FACT: The western genre, which once thrived in the 1940s and 50s when anything with cowboys were enormous hits in novels, films, TV, and comic books, took the biggest nose dive in popularity and sales. part of the quick spiral was due to the fact that most westerns of the past were based on a more wholesome story base. The 60s began to kick out the boy scout and embrace the more R-rated anti-hero. That didn’t seem to transfer too well in the field of comic books. now and then you’ll see a fine western pop up in comic books, but it’s rare. most of those are written off as old fashioned before given a chance or a read. A loss for both the readers and the publishers. I feel that unlike war comics, which is a constant reality and still happening, the western is America’s mythology based on history. The stories and character dramas in westerns have only been slightly tapped and have the most potential of all genres today. Cops are the modern day cowboys in fiction, but that doesn’t mean that the genre can’t be saddled up and come out of the sunset and into our reader’s minds once more.

War Genre

BEAU FACT: The war genre comics has managed to stay with us because there are always wars going on, big and small. The true power of war comics were stoked of course from world war II. Not since the Revolutionary war had there been such a fire in patriotism. That fueled war comics for a very long time. Yes, today we still have the occasional war comic book, more are based out of respect for WWII, but modern writers tend to put their own fictional spin on most war comics published. With a series of smaller, less mass backed wars since the Korean War, readers seem to want to escape the “ripped from today’s headlines” approach of modern war story comics. They prefer escapism.

Romance Genre

BEAU FACT: The romance genre, once popular with girls only, back in the 40s through 60s, has morphed in the passing of decades. The soap opera of romance has gradually, and with stealth, worked its way into all forms of comic books. marvel Comics really made this happen in the 1960s when it filled it’s superhero comics, such as incredible Spider-Man and The wonderful four with loads of drama, love triangles, and scorned love. Soon, almost all publishers caught on and injected romance and soap opera into their characters and stories in one form or another. Today with smaller independent publishers you’ll find stories of social outcasts rebuffed by cheerleaders and jocks in a coffee shop world of depression and sadness, where your horned rimmed glasses will find you true love and mutual respect for computer code. The nerd you were in high school got you beat up, the hipster you are now will get your laid and make you a social network mogul. romance is in the air and online. A fine example of how you can successfully mix two genres and come up with a winner that captures all genders is The walking Dead. Both the comic book and the TV show are a soap opera with zombies, guys and girls both love it and have something that appeals to them on all sorts of levels. Granted, it’s not for kids, but it never said it was.

Humor Genre

BEAU FACT: The humor genre has taken a very strange turn. once the base for young readers to springboard into older readers has almost disappeared. It’s murky water now. What a causal shopper may see and pick up for their young kid may end up being some twisted, semi-cartoon porn. even once “safe” superhero comics could be a minefield of cuss words, sex and brain eating violence you don’t really want your 6 year old reading or seeing. There IS a place for “funny books”. There is lots of money and future readers to be had with funny books. just as in the toy business, there will always be a market for Fisher-Price style toys for kids, the same could be said for comic books. little kids don’t have a bias towards entertainment yet. They want fun in bright colors and loud noises. They want something they can try and draw on paper or an iPad. It can be wholesome, something they can learn from and it can also be escapism where good clobbers bad. We as creators and publishers just need to produce it for them and find a way for them to see it.

I’ve got more beau Facts On Comics to share with you but we’ll have to save them for another time. Please ponder and comment on the ones I’ve listed today and we’ll talk among ourselves and comment on just how smart I really think I am.

After all, isn’t that the reason for this column? beau Fact: It is in MY world. let me rent you some space.

Your egomaniacal amigo,

Beau Smith

The flying Fist Ranch

www.flyingfistranch.com

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Beau Smith, Your Host…Parasites Not Included.

by beloved Smith

Today, March 1, is a special day for me. Today is the birthday of my great buddy as well as artist, Eduardo Barreto.

Eduardo passed away December 15, 2011. two days before my own birthday. Today, Eduardo would’ve been 59 years old.

I wished to take this week’s Beauology 101 column as well as make it special; special for you as a visitor as well as special for my amigo, Eduardo.

Unpublished Cobb: Off The Leash Cover from #1. Eduardo altered his mind as well as made the final much more action influenced. He felt this was as well quiet.

Eduardo as well as I were buddies for over 20 years. before that, I had always admired his work as an artist. His variety was vast. There was no genre in comic books that he might not make his home. His long profession covered science-fiction, superheroes, western, horror, crime, humor, war, as well as so much more. I was lucky sufficient to work with Eduardo on rather a few projects, many notably Cobb as well as Captain Action.

Cobb: On The Border. never seen cover for the new Cobb series we were working on.

Eduardo as well as I likewise had a few jobs in the pipeline that we were always building for publication. jobs that numerous of you didn’t understand about or had seen, Cowboy Warrior King, 200 people To Kill, Jefferson Buck: guy Trapper in addition to a new Cobb series. Eduardo as well as I figured that we would be around for numerous years to come, we still had that shield of invincibility that all of us bring as young people. As we grow older we discover that shield is much more in the mind than in the body.

I always admired Eduardo’s toughness as well as professionalism. I don’t imply the ballroom brawler side, which he was much more than capable of, I’m speaking about his work ethic. He always satisfied deadlines as well as always worked with the most difficult times. He completed his Superman DC Retroactive work from his medical facility bed. Eduardo was really a guy Of Steel.

Not a day goes by that I don’t believe of Eduardo as well as miss him. When we dealt with our jobs it was as if we were linked in the exact same innovative mind. Eduardo was my sibling in so numerous ways. The biggest compliment I have ever got was from Eduardo when he told me that working with me on Cobb was the highlight of his career. It was mine as well.

Cowboy Warrior King: A graphic book we were working on where a former rough Rider heads to Africa for a true battle of cultures.

We were wishing to raise the bar even higher with 200 people To kill , Cowboy Warrior King, as well as Jefferson Buck: guy Trapper, however God had other plans for Eduardo. He called my south of the border sibling home.

What I’d like to perform in tribute of Eduardo’s birthday is show you, my friends, his friends, a few of the behind the scenes art that Eduardo created that you may not have seen. For me, when artwork from Eduardo would come in, it was always like Christmas to me. I hope it is for you. (Ed note: click on the pictures to see them at a larger size.)

Happy Birthday, Eduardo. You online permanently in my heart.

Jefferson Buck: guy Trapper. right here is a never seen pitch we did for Jefferson Buck, the frontier’s very first mountain guy detective. This was a true labor of like for Eduardo as well as I.

Jefferson buck character sketches by Eduardo.

This is a extremely rough sketch design page for COBB by Eduardo, total with his notes. fantastic method to see exactly how we laid out the fight scene.

Cobb: Off The Leash Blue Line designs by Eduardo.

Cover rough sketch for Cobb: Off The Leash #1. We altered it up for the final, however this is where it started.

Cobb: Off The Leash Variant Cover Sketch rough

Unpublished Cobb: Off The Leash Variant Cover Sketch rough for #3.

Cobb: Off The Leash #3 Cover rough Correction.

Eduardo’s roughs from our Captain action story. One man’s roughs are one more man’s fine art!

Eduardo’s color roughs from our Captain action story.

Captain action painted Cover Rough

Character design sheets for poor men in our Captain action story.

The Yeti character sketch from our Captain action story.

Beau Smith

The flying Fist Ranch

www.flyingfistranch.com