Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Bruce Lee's Self Defense Techniques

** Note: another article transplanted to here, even though it's not comic related, I liked it and wanted to post it somewhere. **

I was digging through my bookshelf yesterday and came across Bruce Lee's Fighting Method: Self-Defense Techniques. It was printed posthumously around 1976, but the photos date to 1966. It has a variety of techniques to help defend oneself. I've taken the liberty of scanning a few that highlight the destructive nature of Bruce Lee's Self Defense.

Defense from a Bear Hug
Bruce Lee punch to the groin
Punch the groin
Defense from headlock
Bruce Lee punch to the groin
Punch the groin
Defense from Front Punch
Bruce Lee kick to the groin
Kick the groin
Defense from Front Kick
Defense from Front kick, kick the groin
Kick. The. Groin.
Defense from Weapon Attack
Bruce Lee defends against weapon attack
Toe. To. The. Groin.
Defense From Sitting Position
Defense from Sitting position
Having a cup of tea - Bam! Punch to the groin!
Defense from Front Grab
Defense from Front Grab
To the groin!
Defense from Multiple Attackers
Bruce Lee kicking the groin
Groin!
Defense from Multiple Attackers Alternative
Bruce Lee defends by kicking their groins to oblivion
Devastating
Moral of the Story: Don't ever mess with Bruce Lee or any of his disciples. Ever.



More Comix 365 articles:  

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Shell of the Dragon Cover
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Special
Kato the Green Hornet cover
Kato the Green Hornet




Friday, July 27, 2012

Darwyn Cooke pre Parker and Watchmen

Darwyn Cooke wasn't one of my favorite artists until I stumbled upon his Eisner award winning one shot 'Batman/Spirit'. His artwork is both retro and contemporary. He draws with bold lines and is able to create great atmospheric scenes. He is also draws Wonder Woman taller than Superman.

On the DVD 'The New Frontier' Cooke mentions that this depiction of Wonder Woman has earned him both praise and scorn. I think it's funny, and really, she is an Amazonian Princess after all! Anyway, once again enough chatter - onward artward!

Wonder Woman taller than Superman
New Frontier
Catwoman revelling in her score
Catwoman Pin Up from Solo: Darwyn Cooke
Wonder Woman deflecting bullets
Wonder Woman, back cover New Frontier
Batman jumping to plane
Batman, from Batman/Spirit
Wolverine and Doop
Wolverine and Doop vs pink lady!
Spider-Man vs the Vulture
Spider-Man versus The Vulture

Selina's Big Score interior shot
Establishing shot from interior of Selina's Big Score
free comic book day cover by Darwyn Cooke
Free Comic Book Day cover
Superman fighting Batman
Batman vs Superman from New Frontier
Zatanna Pin up, Joker and Harley gag
Solo Interior art



Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Batman vs. The Hulk

I have some neat books (at least in my opinion), so I thought I would take a moment to share them with any readers that stumble upon my blog.

Batman vs. The Incredible Hulk - a paperback comic

Batman vs. The Hulk

Hulk bear hugging Batman



By Lein Wein, Jose Luis Garcia Lopez, and Dick Giordana Published: 1981

Monday, July 23, 2012

Pixar borrows from Mad Magazine

Mad Magazine, Tales Calculated to Drive You Mad, Cover ** This is an old post from a blog I am shutting down. Funny enough, my last blog I only had one comment, and it was for this post. I was told I was full of sh#t, and that Wall-E is the best movie ever and not rip off of anything. Rip off no, but a borrowed idea is still a borrowed idea **

I love Pixar flicks.

The folks at Pixar know how to entertain fo' sho. But not all the ideas they develop are original. Take for example the recently released Wall-E. A movie set in the future where machines run everything. Due to the machine operated world, humanity has grown gelatinous, lazy, and confined to a chair. A great idea and a logical conclusion - but not original.

Mad Magazine published this very idea over 50 years ago! In 'Tales Calculated to Drive You MAD #1' OCT-NOV 1952, in the story titled "Blobs" humanity is pictured exactly as present day Wall-E creators picture humanity. See the following image:

Obese humans in motorized chairs with TV displays

So as you can plainly see, Mad Magazine is truly ahead of its time.


More Comix 365 articles:  

Batman cover by Mike Mignola
Legends of the Dark Knight
Girl Comics by Jill Thompson
Girl Comics 2

Monday, July 2, 2012

Good Girl Art: Young X-Men no. 2 by Terry and Rachel Dodson

That title sounds so wrong.

According to wikipedia "good girl art" is:
"...found in drawings or paintings which feature a strong emphasis on attractive women no matter what the subject or situation."
Whereas Young X-Men was a secondary storyline to the X-Men "Divided We Stand" story.

However, my interest really lies with Terry and Rachel Dodson's artwork!

I was first introduced to Terry and Rachel's work when I stumbled upon DC's Harley Quinn in 2001. There was something special about the comic. Well written, great characters, fun stories, and the clincher - Harley herself. No longer a whimsical cartoon depiction from Batman The Animated Series, Harley took on a whole new level of reality. Terry and Rachel drew Harley with the form of a fully realized person (albeit an 'idealistic' person). But here was a Harley who was athletic, emotional, capable, and ultimately, sexy.

And right there is the truth to why the Dodson's artwork is so appealing. The women the Dodson's draw are not weak, docile characters whose only strength is their exterior. The women they draw are fully realized both internally and externally and in essence are not just attractive women, but attractive characters.

Mantra by Terry Dodson
Over the years I've kept an eye out for Dodson's work, be it their run on Spider-Man or their current work on X-men, but a few years ago I realized that I had seen their work from way back in my past. Digging through my comics I came across my old copies of Mantra. Judging from the cover art I knew why I purchased these comics as a 13 year old boy and looking at them now as an adult I appreciate them for much more than a prepubescent thrill they were then, but now a realization that even at 13 I had great taste in good girl art.






Young X-Men #2 written by Marc Guggenheim, penciled by Yanick Paquette, inked by Ray Snyder, colored by Rob Schwager, lettered by Dave Sharpe. Marvel July 2008.





Terry and Rachel Dodson Gallery

Black Cat
Wonder Woman
Poison Ivy
Harley Quinn as Batgirl
Harley Quinn cuttin Supermans hair
Harley Quinn



More Comix 365 articles:  

Mantra
Where the Wild Hulks

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

TCAF and I'm looking for work...

Art by Fabio Moon & Gabriel Ba
Three years ago I returned to school to chase my dreams - I wanted to be an artist and animator. As of April 2012 I have finished my studies and am halfway to achieving those dreams. The crap part of chasing those dreams though is having to deal with the possibility of not achieving those dreams - ie. finding a job I love. So the pros and cons for looking for work:

Pro: can now devote some time to this neglected blog o'mine.
Con: looking for work with the rest of my time. 

Ah well...let's get to it: some comics!

Went to TCAF 2012 on Sunday. Met Tom Neely - who was gracious enough to sign his wonderful pin-up for King Conan #4 (Dark Horse). Also picked up Doppelganger from him, which is his Popeye existential comic. I feel like Good Guy Greg! Even though I have a digital copy of Doppelganger at my fingertips, I still bought the comic! +1 for Good Guy Goodness! (I've also recently gotten hooked on  reddit). Enjoy Tom Neely's fantastic art! (He also has the original for sale - check out the uncensored version! Tom rules!)

Conan killing big time!

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Necrosha The Gathering

Writer: Craig Kyle & Christopher Yost
Artists: Ibraim Roberson, SotoColor's L. Molinar, Gabriel Hernandez Walta, Leonardo Manco, SotoColor's C. Fidler, Kalman Andrasofszky, Cam Smith, SotoColor's J. Roberts, Mateus Santolouco
Pub: Marvel
Pub Date: Feb 2010

Only bought this because of Walta's art. He's got a great style. Not to knock the other artists of course, they're a bonus.

Sunday, April 22, 2012

Uptight No. 3


Jordan Crane
Fantagraphics
2009

First tale is depressing. Second tale is pretty neat. Cover is great.



Monday, March 5, 2012

Cover of the Week!



Cover Artist: Yanick Paquette

Check out his line work on this issue! Fantastic!