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!)

Mesmo Delivery

Writer/Artist: Rafael Grampa
Colours: Rafael Grampa & Marcus Penna
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Published: February 2010

If I reviewed comics professionally, this would be my quote:

"Blazingly spectacular. A dark twisted stop over ticket into the 'do not enter'. Non-refundable."

Ha ha, okay, I'm not a great 'quoter', but I really want to express how much I love this comic. I can't remember the last time I read a comic and was so excited I couldn't sleep. My enthusiasm for Mesmo Delivery is on par with how I felt after watching Oldboy. I was shocked, amazed, repulsed, fanatically joyous, grossed out. I could go on...but I don't want to over hype things.

The story follows an Elvis impersonator and a desperate ex-boxer driving a delivery truck. They stop for gas. All hell breaks loose.

Note 1: Definitely not for the kiddies.
Note 2: In case folks haven't noticed, any post with the tag "* Edit" has an image I have created from panels within the comic. I have time to do these right now, and it helps to keep me interested. Hope you like 'em.
Note 3: Here's a link for a preview PDF from it's initial publisher, AdHouse.





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Hellboy: The Storm # 1 of 3

Writer: Mike Mignola
Artist: Duncan Fegredo
Colors: Dave Stewart
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Published: July 2010

I haven't read any Hellboy comics in a long time. So with this issue, I decided I'd see what he's up to these days. Turns out he's got Excalibur and is the heir to the the throne of England. Go fig.

Mr. Monster # 1: Origins

Writer/Artist: Michael T. Gilbert
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Published: February 1988

Another kick ass cover! Equal parts Batman-esque jumbled up with a fish creature dealio. The story revolves around Mister Monster losing the love of his life due to the demands of killing monsters. In the issue he uses a homemade flamethrower. Can't beat that.

The Goon # 19

Writer/Artist: Eric Powell
Publisher: Dark Horse
Published: July 2007

One more tentacle issue after this and I think I'm tentacled out.

The Goon is just an awesome comic. I think I've said this before. Powell is about the only artist that I know of who can pull of pages of just Goon hitting things. Issue 19 has Goon taking on a new menace spawned by the Zombie Priest. This new beast has taken some from Goon, but you'll never guess what. Hint: it ain't the love of his life. Or is it?

Oh and this issue has this guy. Watch it, he's a biter:

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Hellboy: Seed of Destruction # 2

Writers: Mike Mignola, John Byrne
Artist: Mike Mignola
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Published: April 1994

Mike Mignola is the King of Lovecraftin' horror comics. Hellboy is the shiznit that hands out justice with his red right hand. Issue # 2 has Hellboy, Abe and Liz deepening their investigation into the frogman murders. They visit Lady Cavendish's place, where Rasputin finally makes his presence known. He advises Hellboy of some disturbing facts, but before Hellboy can digest these new developments, a giant monster bursts forth from below! Can you guess what kind?!


Is the end of Hellboy? Probably not, but if you want to find out for sure, head to your nearest comic shop - NOW! Or this will happen to ya:

The Goon # 6: iLagarto Hombre!

Writer/Artist: Eric Powell
Colorists: Eric Powell, Robin Powell, Shaynne Corbett, Barry Gregory
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Published: April 2004

Ahh...the Goon. What a great comic! Today's issue brings Powell's interpretation of that oh so famous tentacle beast. After a rift in time and space opens, depositing the said beast in Goon's territory, it makes it's way to town. Powell can't help but remark: "How original. An ugly thing with tentacles. Why it can't be something interesting like a monster made out of breasts?"


Good question. Definitely worth pondering over....


Moving along, the beast attacks the town where it gets the royal Goon treatment. The issue ends...well you'd never expect how. Here's a snapshot to get the ol'brain bubbling:

The Amazing Screw-On Head

Writer/Artist: Mike Mignola
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Published: May 2002

The Amazing Screw-On Head is a secret government agent who answers directly to the President of the United States of America, Abraham Lincoln. Mr. Groin is Screw-On Head's faithful man servant. Emperor Zombie is the bad guy who enjoys dabbling in all things arcane and forbidden. Madam Patience is a vampire. Mr. Dog is a stuffed reanimated dog.

Interested yet?

This comic is one of those stand alone issues that make your head spin. Equal parts humorous and horror-like, this tale won the Eisner Award for Best Humor publication. The art is spooky, deep, and forbidding. The characters are unique and bizarre, and the story itself seems like it was birthed in a dream after a night of boozing. This is a must have for any serious comic fan. And if you're not serious, you can always check out the animated cartoon based off the comic. It's just as funny. Maybe even better, 'cause it's got Paul "I'm not drinking fucking Merlot!" Giamatti, David "Oh Dear" Hyde Pierce, and Molly "Superstar" Shannon as the voice actors. Just awesome.

My Name is Bruce One-Shot

Writers: Milton Freewater, Jr., Mark Verheiden
Artist: Cliff Richards
Publisher: Dark Horse
Published: September 2008

My Name is Bruce is a comic adaption of the movie that goes by the same name. Unlike most movie adaptations though, this one pretty much skips everything besides the beginning and ending.

Beginning: drunken, horny teenagers release ancient Chinese Protector Guan-Di by removing a special amulet from an abandoned mine. Guan-Di cuts off some heads and limbs.

Ending: Bruce Campbell is recruited by said teenagers (the comic didn't say how), and using his B-movie magic, he is able to distract Guan-Di using bean curd, while the teenager blows up the mine with Guan-Di trapped inside. Replace seal, witty comments, The End.





On an unrelated note, I've just found out that Google has my site listed in their searches! HELL YEAH! That means, that if someone types "comix 365", my blog is the first entry cited. Wow. I've done it. The Google Empire Spider Patrol has included me in the ever expansive web.

Now that Google has decided I'm not completely useless and irrelevant, which is very cool.... it's too bad nobody except the weirdo comic undergroundies and folks who "dont spel to goud" will ever find my blog...damn...is it too late to change my blog title to Comics-365?

Screw it - I've gone too far.

Lone Wolf and Cub Vol. 1, Chapter 1

Writer: Kazuo Koike
Artist: Goseki Kojima
Publisher: Futabasha, Dark Horse Comics
Published: 1970, 2000

L is for Lone Wolf and Cub!

Up until this point I've been trying to be bit of a purist. I've tried to just focus on single issue comics, the standard size of 32 pages. I've avoided the graphic novels, unless they can be broken down into single issues, and I've also tried to stick to original publishing dates and publishers as best as I could. However, today being the letter L (I'm starting to remind myself of Seaseme Street), I had the choice of reviewing Lady Death or Lone Wolf and Cub, and I had to choose the latter. That's not to say that Lone Wolf and Cub is superior to Lady Death, but I can't justify writing a post strictly about Lady Death's boobs. Not yet anyway.

(NOW before I get the "oh you're just a sexist juvenile pig who can't get past Lady Death's boobs and focus on the epic emotional story of good versus evil," let me just say that I've done nothing wrong by stating that the Lady Death comics are only about boobs. For your information, I like boobs. My girlfriend has boobs, and she likes me,...at least she puts on the appearance she does...aww jeeze I hope she does...'cause I sure as hell don't want to relive my teenage years where my only date on a Saturday night was a Lady Death comic....)

So, today I'm reviewing Lone Wolf and Cub Volume 1: The Assassins Road, Chapter 1: Son for Hire, Sword For Hire, even though it is not a standard North American comic format. The opening chapter sets the tone for the entire series. It has Ogami Ittō (Lone Wolf) using his son to finish an assassins job. Ittō is hired to kill a local lord, but he needs to bypass the Guardians Eight, who are superior guardsman. Ittō sends in a false message that leads the Guardians to arresting him and his son as would be assassins. He and his son are then bound and taken before the Lord he was sent to kill. Daigoro, his son, ends up crying because he needs to pee, so the captors release Ittō to assist his son. Ittō ends up taking this moment of freedom to kill the lord with a concealed spear he had hidden in the baby cart. He then dispatches the Guardian Eight in a fury of sword strokes. The story ends with he and his son leaving untouched.

If you feel ripped off I gave away the entire plot of this story, which I did, don't worry, there are 28 volumes with about 5 or 6 chapters apiece, so you'll have plenty of reading ahead of you. Trust me, it is worth it, especially if you like historical fiction, graphic fights, father/son issues, and an epic bloody revenge story. Of if you don't have the time or money, rent the movies. They're pretty awesome in their own right. Let's just say Ogami Ittō puts Arnold's title of One Man Army to shame.

Bettie Page Comics

Writers: Dave Stevens, Jeff Gelb, Gilbert Hernandez, Eric Stanton
Artists: Dave Stevens, Bret Blevins, Tony Meers, Russ Health
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Published: March 1996

B is for Bettie!

In 1996 Dark Horse published a short comic dedicated to Bettie Page. It's really good, and not just because of the artwork...well the artwork is really good, but also because the stories are actually entertaining and not just fluff pieces as an excuse to draw Page.

The first story has Page being hired by a Mr. Glen Wood (think Ed Wood) to star in one of his films. Being Ed Wood, the story involves him dreaming bigger than his budget, and ends with him being thrown to the curb. Blevins is the artist on this one, and he delivers some of his best work as far as I'm concerned.

The second tale has Bettie Page, during a photo shoot, finding some stolen jewels. The third tale is printed by the one and only Eric Stanton. The last tale has Bettie Page giving some aliens a lesson in playful slapping.

I was going to write up some thoughts on Page, but I figure I'll let the artwork speak for itself. Enjoy!

Pigeons From Hell # 1 of 4

Writer: Joe R. Lansdale
Artist: Nathan Fox
Colorist: Dave Stewart
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Published: April 2008

Following on the tail feathers of yesterday's post, I thought the comic adaptation of Robert E. Howard's short story, Pigeons From Hell, would be a perfect fit for the day before HALLOWEEN!!!!

The Blassenville sisters, with some friends, are on their way to see an old family house they inherited. Upon entering the house the group find a mass mound of dead pigeons. The group then leaves the house in a hurry, but things don't go quite their way...the pigeon shit is about to hit the fan, as it were.

This is a great series, and not just because of the fantastic story by Howard, or the awesome adaption skills of Lansdale, but because of Nathan Fox's involvement. Now here is a guy that delivers when it comes to images of eeriness and gore. His style reminds me of Paul Pope, but with more lines. Fox's use of color is outstanding as well. This is an artist definitely to watch.

1 DAY TO HALLOWEEN!