The Princess and The Frog

I’m only a couple weeks out from a family vacation to Disney World. So once again Disney is on the brain. I came across a few trailers for The Princess and The Frog, the upcoming animated feature from Disney coming out this December. The artwork looks great, and the voice talent is solid. I hope  the public is receptive to this film. I’d hate to see the hand drawn animated film go the way of the dinosaur in favor of computer generated 3-D productions. The success of the this film would go a long way ensuring the survival of the hand-drawn Disney animated feature.

The Harvey Awards 2009 Nominees

Here they are the Nominees for the 2009 Harvey Awards. The ceremony will be held at the 2009 Baltimore Comic Con this October. This year I’m going to make a better effort to check out the works of some of the nominees that I’m not familiar with. I’m glad to see All Star Superman getting props, I enjoyed that limited series a great deal. Check out the trade paper backs if you missed the monthly issues.

Congrats to all the nominees!

BEST WRITER
Kyle Baker, NAT TURNER, Abrams books
Ed Brubaker, CAPTAIN AMERICA, Marvel Comics
John Gallagher, BUZZBOY, Sky Dog Comics
Jeff Kinney, DIARY OF A WIMPY KID, Amulet Books
Grant Morrison, ALL-STAR SUPERMAN, DC Comics

BEST ARTIST
Gabriel Ba, UMBRELLA ACADEMY, Dark Horse Comics
Kyle Baker, NAT TURNER, Abrams Books
Jimmy Gownley, AMELIA RULES, Renaissance Press
Jason Kruse, WORLD OF QUEST, Yen Press
Frank Quitely, ALL-STAR SUPERMAN, DC Comics

BEST CARTOONIST
Lar deSouza, LEAST I COULD DO, www.leasticoulddo.com
John Gallagher, BUZZBOY, Sky Dog Comics
Al Jaffee, TALL TALES, Abrams Books
Jeff Kinney, DIARY OF A WIMPY KID, Amulet Books
Thom Zahler, LOVE & CAPES, Maerkle Press

BEST LETTERER
Jimmy Gownley, AMELIA RULES, Renaissance Press
Rob Leigh, THE SPIRIT, DC Comics
Doug Sherwood, LOCAL, Oni Press
John Workman, MARVEL 1985, Marvel Comics
Thom Zahler, BUZZBOY, Sky Dog Comics

BEST  INKER
Rich Faber, BUZZBOY, Sky Dog Comics
Jamie Grant, ALL-STAR SUPERMAN, DC Comics
Jeff Kinney, DIARY OF A WIMPY KID, Amulet Books
Mark Morales, THOR, Marvel Comics
Ryan Winn, THE DARKNESS, Image Comics

BEST COLORIST
Frank Cammuso, OTTO’S ORANGE DAY, Raw Junior, LLC
Jamie Grant, ALL-STAR SUPERMAN, DC Comics
Laura Martin, THOR, Marvel Comics
Wil Quintana, THE MICE TEMPLAR, Image Comics
Dave Stewart, UMBRELLA ACADEMY, Dark Horse Comics

BEST COVER ARTIST
Frank Cho, BUZZBOY: SIDEKICKS RULE!#3, Sky Dog Press
James Jean, FABLES, Vertigo Comics
Jay Lynch, MINDSHAFT #23, Mindshaft Publishing
Ken Rocafort, PILOT SEASON: CORE #1, Top Cow
Alex Ross, JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA, DC Comics

BEST NEW SERIES
THE DREAMER, IDW
ECHO, Abstract Studios
HIGH MOON, www.zudacomics.com
NIGHT OWLS, www.zudacomics.com
SUPERTRON, www.zudacomics.com

BEST CONTINUING OR LIMITED SERIES
ALL-STAR SUPERMAN, DC Comics
CAPTAIN AMERICA, Marvel Comics
DIARY OF A WIMPY KID, Amulet Books
MICE TEMPLAR, Image Comics
UMBRELLA ACADEMY, Dark Horse Comics

BEST BIOGRAPHICAL, HISTORICAL OR JOURNALISTIC PRESENTATION
DRAW!, edited by Mike Manley, Twomorrows Publishing
HOW TO MAKE WEBCOMICS, Brad Guigar, Dave Kellett,
Scott Kurtz, and Kris Straub, Image   Comics
KIRBY: KING OF COMICS, Mark Evanier, Abrams Books
SCORCHY SMITH AND THE ART OF NOEL SICKLES, edited by Dean Mullaney, IDW
WORDLESS BOOKS: THE ORIGINAL GRAPHIC NOVELS,
edited by David A. Berona, Abrams Books

BEST SYNDICATED STRIP OR PANEL
BREWSTER ROCKIT: SPACE GUY!, Tim Rickard, Tribune Media Services
GET FUZZY, Darby Conley, United Features Syndicate
MUTTS, Patrick McDonnell, King Features Syndicate
THE NORM, Michael Jantze, Uclick Gocomics
PEARLS BEFORE SWINE, Stephan Pastis, United Features Syndicate

BEST ANTHOLOGY
COMIC BOOK TATTOO, edited by Rantz Hoseley, Image Comics
FLIGHT VOLUME 5, edited by Kazu Kibuishi, Villard
MOME VOLUME 10, edited by Eric Reynolds, Fantagraphics Books
PIXU #1, edited by Gabriel Ba and Fabio Moon, Self-Published
POPGUN VOLUME 2, edited by Joe Keatinge and Mark Andrew Smith, Image Comics

BEST GRAPHIC ALBUM – ORIGINAL
BOTTOMLESS BELLY BUTTON, Fantagraphics Books
DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: RODRICK RULES, Amulet Books
ESSEX COUNTY: THE COUNTRY NURSE, Top Shelf
SKIM, Groundwood Books
TOO COOL TO BE FORGOTTEN, Top Shelf
WORLD OF QUEST: VOL. 2, Yen Press

BEST GRAPHIC ALBUM – PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED
AMELIA RULES!: FUNNY STORIES, Renaissance Press
M, Abrams Books
NAT TURNER, Abrams Books
THE MICE TEMPLAR: VOL. 1, Image Comics
Queen and country: VOLUME, Oni Press
SKYSCRAPERS OF THE MIDWEST (HARDCOVER), Adhouse Books

BEST SINGLE ISSUE OR STORY
ACME NOVELTY LIBRARY #19, Self-Published
FIRST BORN: AFTERMATH #1, Top Cow
LOVE AND ROCKETS, VOL. 3 #1, Fantagraphics Books
M, Abrams Books
NASCAR HEROES #5, NASCAR Comics
NAT TURNER, Abrams Books
THE AMAZiNG REMARKABLE MONSIEUR LEOTARD, First Second
Y: THE LAST MAN #60, Vertigo Comics

BEST DOMESTIC REPRINT PROJECT
ASTOUNDING SPACE THRILLS, IDW
COMPLETE PEANUTS, Fantagraphics Books
COMPLETE TERRY AND THE PIRATES, IDW
SCORCHY SMITH AND THE ART OF NOEL SICKLES, IDW
WACKY PACKAGES, Abrams Books

BEST AMERICAN EDITION OF FOREIGN MATERIAL
GUS AND HIS GANG, First Second
POCKET FULL OF RAIN, Fantagraphics Books
RED COLORED ELEGY, Drawn and Quarterly
SOLANIN, Viz
WITCHBLADE TAKERU MANGA #’s 11 & 12, Top Cow

BEST ON-LINE COMICS WORK
BLACK CHERRY BOMBSHELLS, Tony Trovarello and John Zito, www.zudacomics.com
HIGH MOON, Scott O. Brown, www.zudacomics.com
LEAST I COULD DO, Lar deSouza and Ryan Sohmer, www.leasticoulddo.com
NIGHT OWLS, Bobby & Peter Timony, www.zudacomics.com
PVP, Scott Kurtz, www.pvponline.com

SPECIAL AWARD FOR HUMOR IN COMICS
Lar deSouza, LEAST I COULD DO, www.leasticoulddo.com
John Gallagher, BUZZBOY, Sky Dog Comics
Al Jaffee, TALL TALES, Abrams Books
Jeff Kinney, DIARY OF A WIMPY KID, Amulet Books
David Malki, WONDERMARK, www.wondermark.com

SPECIAL AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN PRESENTATION
COMPLETE LOCAL: HARDCOVER EDITION, Ryan Kelly and Brian Wood, Oni Press
KIRBY: KING OF COMICS, Mark Evanier, Abrams Books
QUEEN AND COUNTRY: VOLUME 3, Greg Rucka, Mike Norton,
Steve Rolston, and Chris Samnee, Oni Press
TALL TALES, Al Jaffee, Abrams Books
WONDERMARK, VOL. 1: BEARDS OF OUR FOREFATHERS, David Malki, Dark Horse Comics

BEST NEW TALENT
Matt Cassan, NASCAR: HEROES, Nascar Comics
Bryan J.L. Glass, THE MICE TEMPLAR, Image Books
Laura Innes, THE DREAMER, IDW
Tim Sievert, THAT SALTY AIR, Top Shelf
Bobby Timony, NIGHT OWLS, www.zudacomics.com

New, but not improved. What happened to Transformers??

Ah man, what a wonderful weekend. While locals and tourist alike descended upon the Tidal Basin to enjoy the Cherry Blossoms, my little family and I enjoyed a Sunday at one of Maryland’s wonderful state parks and then did a little shopping at TARGET for household stuff. My son also had some birthday cash which was burning a hole in his pocket.

He had a good time going through the toy department picking toy cars as well as a two pack of Transformers robots, that was marked down to $4.99 from $24.99. After we got home of course he tore through his purchases and racing the cars and trying to transform his robots into the jet fighter and mini van they were supposed take the shape of. These robots were specifically from the animated series thats on TV right now. Being a fresh 3 years old, I didn’t expect him to the transform the things, he hasn’t mastered this “art” yet. So it was up to me.

I used to have a couple Transformers when I was a kid in the 80’s, Asher actually plays with a couple of them mixed in with his new ones. When I started transforming this thing it amazed me at how far down the quality gone with these toys. First of the transformation process is way more involved and less secure when in either form than they were back in the day. Second, these things fall apart while transforming them and playing with them, the construction is really, really bad. I don’t know if this is only for the animated series line of the toys or not. Asher does have one “Classic Transformer” that is more like the ones from the 80’s, it seems to be put together better and transformers like the robots from my days of play.

If anything the animated series line should be more sturdy and easier to transform. This line based directly from the cartoon is more appealing to little kids. Hasbro has a good decent reputation in my book, but this series of Transformers is a complete failure. No wonder these things are on such a deep discount. The word has probably spread about how shoddily they are put together. Stick to the Classic line, kids, and avoid this animated series line, trust me.

Wizard of Oz sketches

I’ve been had a lukewarm attitude towards the comic book adaptations of new and old classics by Marvel. Even stories I’ve enjoyed in book form like Ender’s Game or The Stand, I haven’t been too excited about. Marvel however has found a story that I will enjoy thoroughly in comic book form, if even for the artwork alone. Marvel has released a few pages online from the upcoming Wizard of Oz sketchbook that will proceed the the adaptation series due in December. Skottie Young in the artist drawing this all ages book, and I gotta tell you I’m loving what I see.

http://www.marvel.com/news/comicstories.5717

I’m a big fan of L. Frank Baum’s stories both those in Oz and other fantastic lands he created. I hope this series takes off so that Marvel is motivated to adapt more of these stories. I’m ultimate wish would to be to have Baum’s The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus given the comic book treatment, but I’m guessing that’s asking a bit much. But I’m asking anyway!

frank l. baum wizard of oz Marvel Marvel comics Skottie Young witch Dorothy Tin Man Cowardly Lion yellow brick road Scarecrow winged monkey Oz munchkins

The King’s Birthday

August 28th is Jack Kirby’s birthday, he would’ve been 91 years old today. Jack was and is still the King. His creations are having impact on both DC and Marvel Comic universes today and you still still see his influence artwork today. DC’s Final Crisis deals heavily with Kirby’s New Gods, something that I’m enjoying a great deal about the event.

From the Sketchbook: Funny Animal – Giraffe

It’s been awhile since I’ve posted anything from my sketch book. Honestly its been awhile since I just sat down and drew anything. Well tonight I had a chance here’s one character from the big page I filled tonight. I’ll try to get back into this again. Aside from my opinions and thoughts I wanted this blog to be a place to post up my illustrations and doodles.

Hopefully this will be the a renewed feature on here, starting with this guy right here.

Saturday Morning Wayback Machine: Captain Caveman & the Teen Angels

As folks who know me know, I enjoy many of the current cartoons out there. I dig Spongebob Squarepants and Foster’s Home of Imaginary Friends, I watch Avatar the Last Airbender, Teen Titans or Ben 10 whenever I can. But the kid in me still wants some of my old cartoon pals to have some new adventures. Captain Caveman is one of them. Voiced by Mel Blanc, Capt. Caveman was one of Hanna-Barbera’s more unique creations. He was fun to imitate and his use of “Flintstones” technology to fight crime was awesome to behold. I’m still unclear where all that stuff he pulled out of his fur came from. Did he just have big pocket under there or was he a walking prehistoric dimensional rift to a hardware store in Bedrock. Either way good times were had by all each and every Saturday morning with Cavie. And I even enjoyed the Capt. Caveman and Son series, I’ll admit it. Don’t judge me!

Will Elder, illustrator & comic artist, Dies at 86

Will Elder one of the original Mad artists, co-creator of the popular Playboy strip, Little Annie Fanny, and Comic Book Hall of Famer passed away today. He was 86. Before Mad came along Elder provided artwork for many of the EC titles including Two-Fisted Tales and Weird Fantasy.

Articles Remembering Will Elder:

New York Observer

BoingBoing.net

Iron Man Dominates & More Hulk Photos

For the second week in a row, Iron Man stood defiant on the top of the box office sales figures. The flick raked in an additional $50.5 million domestically, for an accumulative domestic gross of approx $177 million so far. Speed Racer didn’t fare to well on its opening weekend, suffering from negative buzz online and less than favorable reviews it only brought in $20.2 million narrowly locking in a 2nd place position box office sales.

I don’t think the studio plugged Speed Racer hard enough as a kids movie, with a better marketing effort Speed Racer could have done a little better in sales. But honestly, there was only so much they could do to counter all the positive chatter that has surrounded Iron Man. Even though a feature length Speed Racer film doesn’t interest me in the least, the effects and atmosphere look awesome. It looks like it’ll make a good DVD to pop into an HD set up.

More Hulk images were released, Cinematical has them available to view : http://www.cinematical.com/photos/the-incredible-hulk-1/ A few look like stills from the trailers that have been released, which is fine. Since Iron Man was so well executed, I have some new hope for the Hulk as a movie. As a shareholder, I have some concern about its performance. A lot of fans didn’t like the previous Hulk flick, and since that didn’t come out too long ago it might negatively impact sales for this movie at the box office.

Tough Decade for Comics

CNN wrote up an interesting piece on the 1950’s and comic books.  The article’s been getting a high level of notice on their site today.  Since I’ve read a bit on that era this article didn’t really tell me anything new. I’m a geek who knows his history of the comic book medium. It did make me think about how it mirrors in a way some of the hullabaloo surrounding some video games now. Video games have become the new feared source of brain rot in our country, which is ridiculous. I find it funny how history repeats itself, I only hope our games are effected the same way horror and crime comics were back then.

The Pictures that Horrified America – by Todd Leopold, CNN.com