From Abhay Khosla, a “fan page” dedicated to Before Watchmen creator Darwyn Cooke. Heh.
“Generally, if I can’t be true to the creator’s intention and spirit, I will probably shy away from working on a character.”
GRAVEYARD OF EMPIRES #3 review & cover of the week nod
Issue 3 of GRAVEYARD OF EMPIRES got a nice little review from Comics Nexus. You have to scroll down a bit to find it, but here’s an excerpt:
“Mark Sable is writing a pretty complicated story, and Paul Azaceta’s atmospheric, Tommy Lee Edwards-like art works very well with it.”
More importantly, Paul Azaceta’s cover got chosen by The Weekly Crisis as its cover of the week:
“Such a simple cover and yet it’ll pop off the stands. I like the almost propaganda feel to this, like it’s some Sino-Japanese War art. Not to mention, this series categorically can’t be given enough praise. It’s awesome and if you haven’t checked it out thus far then you definitely should. A war zombie book with smarts and heart. Golden.” - Ryan L.
Some nice words about the book too. But the covers…I don’t think Paul gets enough credit for them. In a week that included two great covers from Sean Phillips for his and Ed Brubaker’s book “Fatale”, glad to see Paul’s cover work getting his due.
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]
Hey now!
The second part of my appearance on Howard Stern’s The Intern Show on Sirius 101, wherein I basically talk about how NOT to be a good intern. Like how I posted leaked something from a creative meeting to Bendis’s Jinxworld message board about Kevin Smith trying to bribe his way on to The Stern Show, causing him to track me down and harass me; how I almost lost my job for telling my girlfriend about Howard’s then secret divorce; and oh yeah, how dating a stripper isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be.
I’ve got more stories I didn’t get a chance to tell - like how Hank the Angry Drunk almost died when I babysat him one day - so hopefully they’ll have be back on the intern show or both Paul and me on Geektime with Jon Hein Ralph Cirella.
(I know I sound like a terrible intern, but I mostly kept off the radar and did my work, and it was a great experience working there).
Again, really appreciate the chance to plug Graveyard of Empires (again, we named half the characters in the book after show staffers), and mention Stern super-fan Paul Azaceta on the radio (I don’t think that jealous bastard would finish Graveyard if I didn’t).
I meant to mention Stern fan/super talented artist Chuck BB, if there’s a next time, I promise I will.
If this stuff interests you guys, let me know…I’ve got more “Mark Sable True Hollywood Stories” from my time getting into trouble on the fringes of the entertainment industry.
GRAVEYARD OF EMPIRES #3 preview, out this week with FEARLESS TPB
Two big books out this week.
First up is the third issue (of four) of GRAVEYARD OF EMPIRES:
David Harper has posted a 9 page fully-lettered and colored preview at Multiversity.com. You can do 9 page previews when you consistently go over the usual 22 pages (or less) that mainstream superhero comics put out these days. Yet, we’re still charging a dollar less than the usual $3.99.
Also out this week is the Fearless Trade Paperback, collecting the four issue mini-series I did with David Roth and P.J. Holden at Image a few years ago.
It centers around a vigilante addicted to an anti-fear drug, and what happesn when his drug supply runs out. Like Graveyard, each issue was well over 22 pages of story; Issues 1-4 were 32, 28, 30 and 32 pages respectively. I think that 122 pages at $14.99 itself would be a steal, but this book has the most “extras” of any book I’ve ever been a part of.
It’s not just never before seen sketches and pin-ups by artists like Paul Azaceta, Kristian Donaldson, Andy MacDonald, Rafael Albuquerque (although they are there). There’s also a behind the scenes look at the development of what was my second creator-owned book, from initial concept to final execution, with trips down all the roads not taken (my favorite are the many alternate character designs by PJ Holden…each one could be the star of a completely different comic).
This should be the start of a great New Year for me and my collaborators. DECOY will be out this year (it’s been done forever, but there’s going to be an exciting change in the way it’s published that I’ll wait for Kickstart to announce), and a ton of new projects coming out in various mediums. Thanks to everyone whose patiently supported us in 2011…we hope it will more than pay off in 2012 and beyond.
(SPOILER)
In one page, Nathan Fox sums up the best episode of the best season of the best series on TV right now, Breaking Bad.
Nathan is one of the best illustrators working in any medium now. He’s currently reviving Todd McFarlane’s Haunt with Joe Casey. And along with writer Matt Fraction, he did a masterful job with “For God and Country: An Illustrated Account of the Raid on Osama Bin Laden” a comic in this month’s GQ.
(Having spent the past few years researching the hell out of Afghanistan/Pakistain, The Taliban/Al Qaeda and The War of Terror in general for Unthinkable and Graveyard of Empires there are some things I’d nitpick about how the raid and OBL’s state of mind was depicted, but a) I don’t like critiquing fellow creators and b) I wouldn’t know how to do so without compromising the confidentiality of my sources. It’s still worth checking out as a master class in comics storytelling though, especially with Fraction and Fox’s rollover commentary).
You can see more of Nathan Fox’s work his blog.
Already bought a copy of Sam Humphries sold-out-from-the-distributor SACRIFICE, but going to try and stop by Collector’s Paradise in Pasadena for this signing tonight. Like their Canoga park location, an extremely well run store where I did a Free Comic Book Day signing this year, it should be fun.
Whether or not I can make it, you should come by (for the free beer if nothing else) and pick up SACRIFICE, which I can’t recommend more highly.
This Wednesday, December 14th, aka SACRIFICE day, Collector’s Paradise is hosting the official SACRIFICE launch party!
I’ll be signing the comic book at both of their Los Angeles-area locations, from 12n-3p at the Canoga Park store in the Valley, and from 7p-10p at the Pasadena store.
The Pasadena party will feature FREE BEER which you can’t hate on.
Come on over and say hi! I’ll be the guy with the afro and about six sharpies. Details and RSVP here!
Sam Humphries has a new comic out this week, and it’s great. SACRIFICE is his follow up to OUR LOVE IS REAL, which was first a self-published sensation and then joined GRAVEYARD OF EMPIRES at Image Comics. It’s my favorite single issue of the year. Now Sam has gotten all ambitious and moved on to a limited series.
I just read a PDF of the first issue of Sacrifice. Even in reading in my Firefox browser where I couldn’t adjust the panel size, it blew me away. Kieron Gillen, writer of Phonogram and Uncanny X-men, had this pull quote:
“What happens when two of history’s greatest death cults meet up? Aztecs vs. Joy Division fans. You haven’t an answer. You haven’t even thought of such a thing. Humphries and Rose have”.
The Rose they are referring to is Dalton Rose. His art is a revelation. As much as I love the cover design, the interiors are full color and even better. Here’s a teaser courtesy of ifanboy.
I have to admit, Kieron’s quote scared me. I love the work he and Jamie McKelvie did on Phonogram, but the words “Joy Division” made me think my musical tastes were not hip enough for the book. While I’m sure if yours are you’ll get even more out of it than me, rest assured you don’t need to know anything about music.
SACRIFICE is an extremely smart, accessible book about a teenager that may or may not have traveled back in time to the Aztec Empire the end of Montezuma’s reign. It’s is-he-really-time-traveling-or-is-he-just-having-a-mental-breakdown thing reminded me of Life on Mars (the great British TV show, not the horrible American remake, which had the biggest “fuck you, audience” finale this side of The Sopranos”). The Aztec stuff is done well, and reminds of Civilization, my all time favorite computer game.
You might say I’m biased with my review here, as Sam is a great friend who not only shares my love for Civ but has helped me out tremendously. But trust me when I say it actually pains me to praise this book, that’s how jealous of it I am. It’s truly phenomenal and you’d never know it was only his 2nd creator-owned book…definitely no sophomore slump here.
SACRIFICE is available in select stores this Wednesday, December 14th, with print editions delivered from Things From Another World and digital download. Below is the official announcement info, and clinking the cover above will take you to Sam’s website.
Announcement
MY NEW COMIC BOOK COMES OUT DECEMBER 14
SACRIFICE
BLOOD WILL TEAR US APART
The trailer for FRANKIE GETS YOUR GUN, the upcoming creator-owned comic from my HAZED collaborator, artist Robbi Rodriguez. FRANKIE will be both a webcomic and self-published print version, with other versions possible.
This looks to be a huge year for Robbi, with issues of X-Force and Haunt coming up. All these projects are a huge departure from HAZED, Hero Camp and even Maintenance.
But I’m most excited about Frankie, which Robbi is not only drawing but writing as well. I know Paul Azaceta plans to do that this year as well, and while my ego would like to believe no artist can work without my words, the truth is they are both such strong storytellers that this is perfect next step for them.
For more info/updates on Robbi and Frankie, check out his blog.
UPDATE 12/11/11 3:30 PM Pacific: According to Robbi: “Announcement: Frankiegetyourgun.com launches at Midnight tonight or as soon as I get back from the Vandals show.”
Paul Azaceta is Taking Commissions
As I posted on Twitter, we just handed in the final files GRAVEYARD OF EMPIRES #3 to Image. As soon as I get a release date, I’ll post it.
Artist Paul Azaceta has been working non-stop on GRAVEYARD for the better part of the year, with the exception of his phenomenal arc on Vertigo’s NORTHLANDERS. Paul will be starting work on Issue 4 soon, but until he does, he’s posted on his blog that he’s taking commissions for a brief time.
Especially for those of you that didn’t have the chance to hit Paul up at conventions like New York, San Diego or Emerald City Comic-Con, I can’t stress what a great opportunity this is.
Back when we were starting out, and I was nervy enough to ask fellow professionals to fill my sketchbook, Paul did some quick drawings for me:
is T
I’m probably doing Paul a slight disservice here, because those were done quickly 5-6 years ago and my shitty iphone pictures don’t do them justice. As much as I love these, trust me when I say that if you order a commission from him, you will get something that blows your mind.
There’s nothing like original art, and with the holiday season it makes a great gift. I’m not posting Paul’s e-mail so he doesn’t get hit with spam, but if you click on the link above, it’s on his blog. Just don’t ask for too many commissions…as much as Paul deserves a break, I want him back on Graveyard of Empires as soon as possible.
Some Release Dates…
I jumped the gun by saying you could pre-order (MARVEL) SUPER HEROES #23. Well, now you can. It’s in this month’s previews (DEC 2011). SUPER HEROES #23, featuring my Fantastic Four/Super Skrull story hits stores 1/18/12.
Two week before that, the TPB of FEARLESS will finally be released, on 1/4/12. We did have some issues putting the trade together, which I explained in a previous post, but I’m still not sure why it’s delayed two months instead of one. The good news is that for no extra charge it will have the biggest collections of extras of any trade I’ve ever been involved with.
I still don’t have a date for GRAVEYARD OF EMPIRES #3. Paul Azaceta is done with the art, it’s in the hands of colorist Matt Wilson (who is coloring like every Marvel book now, and really showing amazing quality and range) and designer/letterer Thomas Mauer (who is doing double duty designing the FEARLESS trade) letterer now. They are both nearly finished, so after notes from Paul and I, should be at the printer next week. I’m hoping that means a December release date and not a January one.
Also no date on…DECOY, which should be 100% done…I gave a 2nd set of lettering corrects so it’s in Kickstart’s hands. With both GRAVEYARD and DECOY, I feel like what Paul & co. and Andy MacDonald and Nick Filardi did with the art will make it worth the wait.
Again, I appreciate everyone’s patience on this. Trust me that it’s frustrating for me to have all this complete or nearly complete work sitting on my desk and not it in your hands.
