By Jimmy Palmiotti

Welcome to my 21st blog. I am now legal and will drink till I pass out in the corner. Anyway… been super busy doing many things inside and outside of comics these past weeks. Amanda and I took some time off to check out the space shuttle launch and it was pretty darn cool. As a kid, I always dreamed about being a spaceman [that’s why I experimented with so many drugs early on in life] and getting to see an actual rocket take off and to have all my senses blasted by it was so cool that it’s hard to describe. The stand-out was the flame from the rocket engines, brighter than the sun and the wave of noise from takeoff took over 15 seconds to reach us because we were set back a couple of miles off the water. If you are in the Florida area or want to see this, there are only five more launches before the program is put on hold, so get there quick. Trust me; ask anyone who ever witnessed it, its quite amazing. It was really funny as well, watching people pull up to the side of the road, open a chair, watch the launch for three minutes, fold the chair and get back in their car.

On another subject, Amanda and I got a lot of comps of the Wednesday Comics and we were going to send them overseas but we were invited to speak to a school of kids on the great American teach-in. The school focuses on children with dyslexia, ADD/ADHD, and speech and language issues. It’s very difficult for these children to read anything at all, so we thought we would bring these comics and give them out to the kids. Well… it went over great! When fully opened up on their tables, the pages were almost half their size… and it was great to watch all these kids smile and really enjoy the art and words on these books. A big shout out to Troy Iannucci, a parent there who came to talk to them about how comics are made and got us involved. I deal with a lot of adults that I always say act just like children, but when I say that I forget just how wonderful these kids are and how, when you look into their eyes, the excitement and wonder is so genuine, it’s contagious. What a great group of kids!

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By Jimmy Palmiotti

Well, got back this week [yeah, I spent a few days in Los Angeles having too much of a good time] from a very fun first time con in Long Beach California. Amanda and I were busy all weekend and really enjoyed the healthy crowds there and relieved that we had Paul Mounts, the Power Girl colorist, along with us on the trip so we could put the finishing touches on Power Girl #6 while there and truly relax.

At the con I got serenaded by a Jonah Hex fan [Don’t believe me… watch this video and laugh…] and had some wonderful dinners with close friends. A perfect weekend, really.

For the next few days, I spent my time going into and out of various meetings all over the map. These meetings usually consist of meet-and-greets and the talk of future projects. I am hoping two of the meetings I had will have something interesting come from them, but I have learned long ago that it’s usually not the case, and when they offer you bottled water when you enter the office, to always take it because it’s probably the only thing you are going to get.

Let me know how the Big Apple Con went. Amanda and I couldn’t make it because too much work right now.

IN PREVIEWS: First business of the day: I DID NOT write Spartacus #3 for Devil’s Due. It is listed in the new previews and it is incorrect. I really couldn’t tell you who did, but it’s not me for sure. I came in and did issue 2 and that’s it for me. I just wanted to warn the retailers I know and cherish and make you guys aware of this. Stuff like this drives me to drink.

JONAH HEX #50: I actually WILL be inking this issue over Darwyn Cooke… even though it’s NOT listed in the new previews. Lol… it’s been almost 2 years now since I inked a book and why not break that streak and get on one of my favorite ones and get to work. I am flattered Darwyn wanted me.

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By Jimmy Palmiotti

No dirt here, just sunshine.

I have been very busy these past few weeks and writing this piece for the good people at Newsarama has to always come second to my work… so I hope you all can understand my situation. Believe me, if I could dictate it, it would be that much easier. Anyway, a lot has happened in the last few weeks with the big two companies I happen to be working for… that is the Marvel/Disney deal, and DC Entertainment. I declined to add to the wall of comments that were out there the past few weeks till I got to speak to friends and read what was written online and get a better grasp on what is going on. These are all my opinions and not facts, but I will try to relieve some fans and freelancers of some worries… I am doing this also to help me get some peace from having my phone ringing every 20 minutes from people freaking out here and there. So here goes… and I will say this now… I look at both of these things in a positive light. Also included are delayed movie reviews.

MARVEL/DISNEY: I think this is a good thing. Simply because Joe Quesada and I were working at Marvel when they were in Chapter 11 and saw a lot of people lose their jobs and worry about things that were not the content of the books. And with us doing the Marvel Knights line at the time, it was added pressure for everyone. I look at this deal and I see a fantastic future for the characters and the creators to expand and grow with the company. Doesn’t Disney own a few studios and TV channels? Well… I am guessing they now have over 5,000 characters to pick from and develop some cool shows and games and so on and they will need guys like me to help out at some point… at the very least, they will make more work for everyone. I personally don’t worry about the content of the books because my friends Dan Buckley and Joe are there overseeing things, and from what I hear, that isn’t going to change anything to the negative one bit. Not only that… all those silly fears about not getting original art back and so on are just silly and completely untrue from everything I hear. Dan and Joe understand the company, the business and especially what freelancers needs and fears are and I know these two personally… to be stand up guys that fight for whatever rights might be in peril. Honestly, nothing is going to change on that end… it’s business as usual with our guys in charge of the books and characters and with that info, I am totally relaxed and look forward to the new cool things coming down the road, and hope I can be part of it. Really… I see this as a good thing all around and am surprised at others that can’t see that. I am excited for all my friends at Marvel Comics, and you should be too!

DC ENTERTAINMENT: The good news is that a guy I have known and worked with for years, Paul Levitz, is going back to doing what he always loved doing since day one, and that is writing comic books. Anyone that knows Paul on any level or have dealt with him in business, knows and understands how much he loves the DC characters and understands that he has always had a better grasp on the bigger picture of publishing than most, and that I always admired. I personally have found him to be open, honest and very giving each and every time we have met or spoken. For the past 10 years, DC comics have let me create, expand on and have fun with their characters and have allowed me to share in their success. This year alone, we have in development two past projects we created, Warner Brothers is shooting a Jonah Hex movie, a book Justin and I have been lucky enough to write for almost 50 issues, and we have been involved with writing the Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe video game. How cool is that?

Honestly, it’s a place I still feel I can pitch a wild concept to, whether it’s the DCU, Vertigo or Wildstorm and it will get a fair shake. This is all possible under Paul’s watch and I personally thank him for it.

Now, the forming of DC Entertainment is a good thing in my eyes and I will explain why in a few weeks… at this stage I know only what I read, and it seems cool… but I will have a better-formed opinion over time… so till then I wait .

THE QUICK AND THE REVIEWED: Catch up…

EXTRACT: If you saw the commercial, you saw most of what’s good in this movie. It never gathered any pace to me and by the time it was over, it felt like my time would have been better spent elsewhere. Some good bits, but overall, not enough story here for my tastes. Will be a fun cable movie at some point, unless an uncut version hits, then maybe it will have a bit more edge.

MUTANT CRONICLES: I know this is a renter, but I enjoyed it. After a shaky start and riddled with too much CGI, it got going after the war scene and reminded me of a video game in a lot of ways… and for a change, I enjoyed that. Thomas Jane is the star in this one and he was great as usual. He is a natural to me in so many ways… and comes across as the “hero” on every level here.  It’s a B-movie all the way…to be clear, but it’s a fun silly one. It’s worth the rent.

INGLORIOUS BASTERDS: If you haven’t seen this yet, you are nuts. I loved it on so many levels, and it’s just wonderful madness. Great cast and great story make this an instant classic for me. Can’t wait for the uncut version… there will be one, right? Honest, Nazis are the best bad guys. They are just so easy to hate. This was a great movie to watch while Justin and I were working on TIME BOMB for Radical Comics.

G.I. JOE: Candy store of silly action made for a light movie viewing. Was it horrible? No. Was it good? No. It was exactly what you would guess it was. Over-the-top action, horrible story and decent actors on speed. Made for kids and teens, as you figured. I was never a G.I. Joe collector as a kid… I had an Action Jackson doll that I would throw under trucks on Flatbush Avenue… you know, for the goof.

FUNNY PEOPLE: Funny movie that is 2/3 wonderful. That’s 1/3 more than most of this summer’s movies. If you like the cast, you will like the film. If you hate Sandler, why bother? Again, this movie had a trailer that gave away just about everything, which was a shame. Trailers should be more teaser than explainers.

500 DAYS OF SUMMER: Cute overall… the male character was written like a cartoon, the female character dead-on, and the storytelling and format was excellent and clever. I left with a good feeling, but now weeks later, can’t remember much.

HALLOWEEN 2: Didn’t see it because I am hoping Rob Zombie goes back to doing his own films and stops doing this. Wasn’t Halloween enough? Why go back? Rob…you only have one life, my talented friend… go do what’s in your heart and create your own legacy… you got it in you. This coming from a place of love… because I do love Rob’s films. Oh… and yeah, I will try to catch this later this week, lol.

And now, some preview Power Girl pages from issue #5. Till next time…

- Jimmy P

By Jimmy Palmiotti

San Diego was a blast this year. Amanda and I got there a day early because I had to do a live interview on San Diego CW 6 TV about my work and the con. When doing something like that, it can be nerve-wracking and exciting at the same time and for me it was a bit of both. What most worried me was that I was going to say something stupid on air and hear about it the whole con from my buddies, but really… other than an awkward shout-out to Amanda, it went without a hitch. The people there were so kind and generous and even gave me a six-pack of local beer afterwards. Honestly, I just figured it was on so early that no one would catch it, but that wasn’t the case because it seems that’s the TV station of choice in all the hotel gyms, so I found out who my healthy buddies were quite quickly because of it. My reviews were good… and again, I am not a “TV” guy by any means, so I am glad I never have to watch it. Here it is on YouTube… watch how the reporter keeps going back to Jonah Hex… I thought it was funny. Amanda’s shout-out was funny as well. Next time I do any TV, I want it to be a reporter interviewing me for winning the lottery.

THE HEX PANEL AND BROOKLYN BRAVADO: This explains Comic-Con and how big it’s gotten in a way, so read on. I wanted to get a seat in the big hall to watch the Hex trailer. I had tried a week before to be included in the panel, after all its Comic-Con, but was told it’s for the film people only. OK… I understand that, but I wanted to be there at least part of the audience because director Jimmy Hayward told me he and his crew put together some cool footage that they were going to show. Well, you got to get there hours in advance to get on line for the WB panel, but thank God Fletch from DC had a ticket to get me reserved seating so I was able to just get there beforehand and relax. So… I’m walking to the main hall when I see some people I know from Warner Bros. walking into a room and I figure its for the panel so I just follow them to a deck where its extremely obvious I do not belong. It’s the holding area is for all the celebs… and I got to tell you, almost every celebrity guest was there, hanging out, talking to each other and waiting for their cues. So there I am, and I figure, hey… I’m a celebrity, I can be here… (LOL… I know, Brooklyn balls) and I finally spotted some friends, said hellos, then saw Josh Brolin and went over to him. He gave me a big hug, we spoke a bit then I spotted other people I know from the film set and said hi to them. Seemed that the panels were running late and everyone was just relaxing. I also saw a guy I know for years, a photographer for the stars, rich Buxo and we chatted as he shot pictures of the celebrity guests in front of us, like Mila Kunis [STUNNING], Robert Rodriguez [TALL], Gary Oldman [SO FRIGGING COOL], Denzel Washington [TALL AND THE MAN], Cameron Diaz [BEAUTIFUL AND GOOD SKIN, so kill that stupid rumor already], as well as a boat-load of directors and producers.

Josh and I took some photos together for the press, which was ultra cool of him… and then Megan Fox walked over. I introduced myself, got a big smile… we spoke a bit about some artwork and then she was whisked away to around 300 photographers. After that, again, I made my way to the green room where I managed to walk in without the special green band on my arm (I asked the guy at the door if my panel started yet, he said which one, I said “Hex” and he said in 20 minutes… yeah, the old bait and switch) …and I sat and saw the end of one panel, Cameron Diaz and a few others make their way to where I was, and then saw Josh, Jimmy, Megan and  Michael Fassbender hit the stage. I was able to watch the fantastic footage but I had to run across to the other side of the con to make it on time for a Radical panel to promote our new title with them called “TIME BOMB” and make it I did, by the skin of my teeth. I have to say, it was a pretty exciting morning and the bonus was the amazing footage of Josh as Jonah. I can’t wait to see the final product. Watch the panel, minus the footage, right here.

Also, at the Con, I made it through the entire show and only actually bought one book, and it was for Amanda. Don’t get me wrong, there were tons of things I wanted and some I turned down from other pros… but I hate carrying anything, so I got home and ordered a bunch of stuff online and am getting it delivered. Yes, that’s how lazy I can be.

THE POWER OF POWER GIRL: The best part of writing the book and working with Justin and Amanda is all the wonderful people we meet who love the book at the shows. Just wanted to shoot a big “thanks” to all the loyal fans and keeping the title in the spotlight.

MAXIM MAGAZINE… NICE REPORTING: So they do a piece on Marvel and interview a lot of Marvel people and they credit Marvel Knights to just Joe Quesada. Boy, am I glad my name is on each and every one of those books… revisionist history really blows. And Maxim… part of reporting is fact-checking…

KEVIN SMITH: Yeah, I know Kevin, worked with him, hung out with him and a long time ago even helped him here and there with some stuff for his films. Most of you know my interaction with Kevin from his amazing run on Daredevil when Joe Quesada and I created Marvel Knights. I don’t see him as often as I like, but when Amanda and I see his wife and him at screenings or at parties, it’s like running into old friends, and we just take up where we left off last time we were together. Anyone who knows me, knows I think the world of him and his talent and consider our friendship a special one… and then someone sent me this list and I got to say… what a damn sweet thing to say about Joe and I. Its funny, I admire so many people its sickening, but Kevin just shot up the list here. Thanks for the shout out, brother… and right back at you. We never could have launched Marvel Knights without you and the book all three of us worked on together is still one of the top examples of my inking at its peak, and still one of the best Daredevil stories done to date. Give it a read right here…

A cool interview done here with me for Graphic NYC. I love these guys and their work and I ramble a bit here, so be prepared to be dizzy. While at the site, give it a look around, you will be totally hooked. Chris and Seth are golden in my book.

DRUNK DRIVER: So Amanda and I come back around 1 am after a bowling charity for AIDS and we hear a car screeching, a bang, and another bang down the street, maybe a football field away it sounded. We took our car over because we really didn’t know how far away it really was and pull up to see a Hyundai wrapped around a palm tree, window cracked, bumper in the road and a ton of groceries all over. A skinny dude in his late 20’s is fishing for something inside when we got there and we asked if he was OK. At this point a car pulls up and calls the police to report the accident. Well, the dude is rambling about his cell phone and then tells us he is fine and says he lives right down the road and is going to go to his house. We are watching in amazement that anyone walked away from the wreck and I was suspicious from the beginning when we saw him… my Brooklyn intuition. I got in my car and went down the road to see what house he was going in to and he saw me and started running like he was on fire away from me down into the town. Yeah… the asshole was a drunk driver, it was his car and yeah… the law, that funny weird thing they quote in court all the time, says that unless someone “sees” you driving and crashing the car, you will not get charged with anything… yeah, unless you hit a pedestrian I guess, or kill another family in another car… this guy got off easy in my book. I have a friend who lost his brother due to a drunk driver and it changed everyone’s lives forever. Long story short, the cops come, take a report from us, ignore me when I am telling them he is running right down the street and then tell me I can go home.

GEM OF THE CON: Got a movie ticket-sized little book from Shannon Wheeler called Postage Stamp Funnies that is just plain awesome. Filthy comes to mind when describing the gag cartoons inside this little gem. If you see that sweet man around, shake him down for one. I laughed my ass off.

By Jimmy Palmiotti

So, off to San Diego soon and as usual, the week before the con is hell for Amanda and I. Amanda starting Power Girl #5 and Justin and I getting everything squared away…that plus the past week I have done 24 interviews… I kid you not. Mostly for THE LAST RESORT, and some for pre-con announcements. I also had to do a lot of running around to promote the trade book release of BACK TO BROOKLYN as well. Seems it sold out in most stores and Amazon once already… but boy, am I glad I let the guys at Image talk me into printing double the order. It’s amazing, I was on Twitter the other day and asked the people that follow me if they bought their trade books online or in comic stores… and I would say about 80% of them said Amazon… I didn’t expect that. As a rule, if my LCS has it, I buy it there, each and every time… but its good to know Amazon is out there I guess.

Whenever possible, I tried to fit a movie in here and there and more about that below… I think its been a real crappy summer of movies so far… at least nothing that is really getting me excited too much. I use the “DVD” rule… when the movie hits DVD, will I buy it on disc? None so far I am afraid, unless the Hangover has another half hour of footage… or maybe Star Trek. I’d watch that again.

KNOCK ON MY DOOR: So, its around 3 am and I am working on the Last Resort script for the last issue and around six feet away from me is my front door to the house. I work on the ground floor away from Amanda so there can be more peace and harmony between us. Anyway, it’s quiet except for a drone of cricket noises outside when I hear a bang, then another bang and another, all on my front door of my house. Remember, its 3 am, and to tell you the truth, I was a bit freaked. I jumped up, grabbed my knife I keep by my desk and went to the front door and turned on the light. My front door is cornered by wall-to-wall glass; so on went the lights and nothing. Not a soul… so I opened my door and there on the ground was an armadillo the size of a big cat. As you can imagine, I was relieved… especially because I was writing a sequence of the book where one of the main characters are fighting the living dead in a hallway. Anyway, the little guy ran away the minute I opened the door and now I added an armadillo to my list of nature’s friends that drive me nuts on a daily basis. If you have been keeping track: fruit rats, owls, hawks, monkeys, snakes and turtles have all been visiting since day one here. For the most part, they just kill each other, so that works for me.

MOON: Enjoyed the hell out of this one… nothing like a little intelligent sci-fi to make me happy… after watching months of lame blockbusters. Solid story, wonderful acting and a cool setup. Do not want to ruin a thing here, except to say that I was happy with the resolve for a change.

I LOVE YOU BETH COOPER: This movie seems to be put together using a teen movie checklist. “Hot girl appreciates the nerdy guy and falls for him” story has been done to death. I am a hoping Chris Columbus, the director, was able to add a bit more to this formula, but credit goes to Hayden Panettiere, the title character. The screen actually comes alive whenever she is on it… not a compliment I throw out there easily and she is the reason I didn’t think the movie was a complete wash out. To Mr. Doyle’s credit, I heard his novel is 40 times better. This movie is for teenagers and no one older… and teenagers will enjoy it I think. I was better off on the moon.

FRANK CHO AND BRANDON PETERSON: Each year, these guys get a booth at San Diego, make a new print together and sell their work and sketchbooks. Well, this year, I was lucky enough to be given a sneak peek at the limited edition print they did together and it’s a killer. I also was lucky enough to have Brandon bring me a copy of his brand new sketchbook he has done and again, like the ones from the past years, it has some of the most lovingly rendered illustrations of your favorite superheroes and fantasy characters. I would suggest each and every one of you going to the con scoop up one of their prints and sketchbooks, because they are going to go fast, and if you check eBay, their old prints from comic con are going for some crazy prices. On a personal note, I want to thank Brandon for helping me on the Back to Brooklyn trade cover. If you haven’t seen it yet, he did an awesome job… his usual awesome job honestly. Enough gushing, check out there work posted here… and go say hi to those dudes at the big wow booth #4903, and say hi to my pal Tony DeZuniga while there as well.

SAN DIEGO AND ME: Well, I have committed to only a few things and I figured I might as well give anyone looking to say hi a place they can find me. A lot of the time I will be at the Fat Naked Rave booth with Amanda Conner, but when not there…. as it goes…

THURSDAY:   3-4 pm, will be doing portfolio reviews at the prism booth 2146.

5-6 pm, I will be at the JSA DC Comics panel.

FRIDAY:        12-1 pm, I will be at the Radical Comics panel.

4:30-5:30 pm, I will be a the Wednesday Comics panel room 5 A&B.

6-7 pm: Signing at the IDW booth.

SATURDAY:  3-4 pm: Signing at the DC booth for Wednesday Comics.

5-6 pm: Radical Comics signing at their booth.

SUNDAY :     1:30-2:30 pm: HERO booth signing #907.

3-4 pm: Prism booth signing.

Well, I must be packing now… my flights start early and I arrive early. Love that time difference from east coast to west coast. I really am going to try to take things easier this year… and I am looking at some time to cool off by the pool and maybe read a comic or two. We forget with all the insanity going on at the con that it is a celebration of comic books and its art form… and this is one of the coolest place to get a sneak peek at what creators got up their sleeves for the rest of the year. For all those going to the show…can’t wait to see you, and to all those not going, stay tuned to Newsarama, their con coverage, as usual, is going to be insane.

- Jimmy P

By Jimmy Palmiotti

Hey crew, I know it’s been a couple of weeks since the last mess of madness from me, but like everything, life and work come first. I have, for the past week and a half, been in New York to attend the Wizard World Philly show and to see some friends and family while around town. Its been a great trip for me, but like all good things, it has its price… and that’s me needing to catch up with my work. Want to get a few announcements out of the way first.

In passing at the Philly show, Dan DiDio mentioned that Justin and I are working on a brand new 128-page JONAH HEX graphic novel hardcover. Well, that’s true and we are almost at the half way stage, writing-wise, and looking forward to getting our featured artist working any day now. Online, Dan also announced that we will be lucky enough to have one of the original creators of the Jonah Hex character working with us… and that is, for the uneducated, Tony De Zuniga… one of the most talented artists in the business as well as being an all around awesome guy. Nothing makes us happier than having the chance to work with a living legend like Tony and I can’t tell you how excited we are to be given this opportunity. Tony has become a fine art painter of late and hasn’t done that much comic work other than an issue of Hex a few years back and some side projects. Well, that’s all going to change with this hardcover…think about it, 128 pages is equal to about almost 6 issues of work… a half a year of any book.  Stay tuned right here for some sneak peeks coming soon. If you want to check out the man himself, here is a pretty cool clip of Tony being interviewed about Hex and his other creation Black Orchid

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By Jimmy Palmiotti

This week, a bunch of movies, a tribute or two and some more silliness… as expected. Amanda and I had the pleasure of taking a full day off and hanging with two of our favorite people, Billy Tucci and his stunning wife, Deb. We went out to the beach, drank a few too many drinks, had some nice meals and got to swim for a bit… a perfect summer day in my eyes, with perfect company. We spoke about how excited I was that Billy was going to finally illustrate an issue of Jonah Hex for Justin and I. It’s what I love about comics… getting to work with friends on a project. As for the rest of the week finished the translation on the first TORPEDO book for IDW and I got to tell you, I forgot how wonderful these books are. It was a real treat to be included in this event.

And last… got time finally to catch up on some movies,  Some good, some bad… and all featuring an opinion from me… I would love your feedback on these reviews, so don’t be shy. Anyway, here we go…

UP: Well, forget it is animation and understand that most movies with animation are written 50 times better than live action any day of the week. This movie was funny, silly, sad, and heartbreaking and didn’t have a boring minute in it. Run to see it… and personally, while watching it in 3-D… I forgot it was 3-D, so I think its cool to see it in regular 2-D as well. I will not ruin a thing other than to say I laughed my ass off watching it and to its credit, the theatre was filled with kids, and they didn’t talk a bit during the entire film, which is amazing if you ask me.

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So, this week mainly I had to work on Powergirl, Jonah Hex and a number of other things, but the real big pain in my arm was a spider bite I got on Sunday that blew up to a weird golf ball sized bump Monday and by Tuesday am was a fun filled doctor appointment for antibiotics that would last all week. You know when you hear those commercials about the side effects of medicines on TV…and they say an estimated 5% of the people taking the drug may have dizziness, diarrhea and some other weird shit? Well, I found out I am part of the lucky 5%. The good news is the bump is going down daily and I have one more day of pill abuse to deal with. I really like spiders, find them fascinating and am glad they are around to capture and eat mosquitoes, but this week, any that get in my way will die an untimely death.

The other thing that drove me nuts was playing that Monsters vs. Aliens game for the ps3. It’s for kids it says, so I played it and hit a wall…took an hour to figure out something, then hit another wall, then…I took the game out of my console and the actual game disc hit my living room wall. To the crew that worked on that game, I hope you all get stuck in traffic each and every day for the next month on the way to your video game job. Shit like that drives me crazy. I actually paid good money for that abuse…and I soooo loved the movie. On to the odds and ends…

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By Jimmy Palmiotti

This week a lot of links to some fun stuff in and around the Internet a quick movie review and some assorted madness.

SIGNING AT TATE’S COMICS: I am jealous of all you people that live near this store. This is hands down one of the greatest comic stores I have been to and I have been to many. The selection is unbeatable and I was able to get around 20 different art books I have been looking all over for and some out of print trades. That and some huge vinyl toys I never knew I needed before. Here is a big thanks to Tate, Amanda and the entire staff of the store for making Amanda and I feel like old friends. If you go to the store for the first time, tell them I sent you… I am sure Tate will take good care of you.

ANGELS AND DEMONS: Well, I didn’t like the first movie of this series and this one was a tiny bit better, but after having 8 years of Catholic school under my belt, I find it hard to buy into all the pomp and circumstance of any religion. I respect it, and the people that follow it, but the things that should mean more to me just don’t. I wish I was more religious, but I am not because I had most of it beaten out of me at a very young age. There are beautiful set pieces, solid action and acting and if there isn’t anything else out there, well check it out for the fact that it is indeed more intelligent than 80% of the crap is delivering these days. Seems most movies, to me, are made for completely brain dead audience. All in all, its just OK.

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By Jimmy Palmiotti

Hey crew, want to thank everyone that came to visit Amanda and I at A COMIC SHOP in Orlando last week and wanted to give a heads up to the people in the Ft. Lauderdale/Miami area that Amanda and I will be at TATES COMICS this Saturday the 16th from 1-3 to sign just about anything you have, including Power Girl and Jonah Hex. If you never have been to this store and live anywhere nearby, well, you are in for a treat! Its one of the biggest, best run and beautiful comic shops in the country…take a look at the web site and tell me it isn’t! Anyway, come on by to hang out and have some fun!

STAR TREK: If you didn’t see the movie yet… there are spoilers here… so skip this part. If you did, like me, well, let’s talk, shall we? We did the geek thing and my friends Brandon, Shawn, Amanda and I hit the IMAX theatre for the first showing.

OK. I enjoyed the film, and it’s a good film, and I will give it a 7/10 for pure fun… but honestly, there were a few things that kept nagging at me while watching the film other than that females really don’t pay an important role in the film except Uhura and Spock’s mom. Winona, please eat a cheeseburger and some fries, OK? We love you, and your body needs some weight to it.

Anyway, the casting was excellent all around and to me, that was the best part of the film… now, The idea that our bad guy is so undeveloped… and honestly, no background about him is given, made the movie and the “screw you” at the end mean nothing to me, except it shocked me how heartless Spock and Kirk were, killing a whole planet-sized ship of people. I am not a big Trek person, but this struck me as something they would never do. Am I wrong? Help me out, Trekkies.
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By Jimmy Palmiotti

Right off the bat I want to thank my SUPER talented buddy Darwyn Cooke for filling in for me last week. He did a great job and really, I would read a blog of his weekly as well, but he has better things to do and honestly, I would rather see his work then listen to him go on and on about what is wrong with the country and it’s cheese fascination. I owe you one, buddy!

Been a weird week and a half, lots of ups and downs but this up made my day.  I read a single headline in the paper and it made me as happy as a clam. Let me explain.

Amanda and I went to the Emerald Con in Seattle and it was a total blast. Great crowds, fantastic fans and I got to spend some quality time with a bunch of people I haven’t seen in a while.

A shout out goes to Dave Johnson, Joe Jusko, Mike Mignola, Joanne, Mark, Lara, Derrick and all the rest for making it a really fun weekend in spite of all the stop-overs and air time to and from the show. Back into the week I had to play catch up with work, see a close friend leave town after many months here in my life daily [Hey, Marsha… I got your crap celebrity magazines waiting for you, little sister] and also got to celebrate Amanda’s birthday twice, then bash one of my fingers pretty good. Actually I jammed a finger in my left hand and I am still going for X-rays, an MRI, and consultations… but the good news that made my day was this headline…

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By Darwyn Cooke (and not Jimmy Palmiotti)

Hey there. It would appear that Jimmy left for Emerald City without a blog for this week, so it fell to me to step in and fill the yawning void that would occur without it.

I’m Darwyn Cooke, by the way. You may remember me from such comics as “To Save Me Why Must I Kill Me?” “The Tight, Tight Costume” and “I Kill You With My Killing Thing”. I’ve been wintering here in Florida with Miss Marsha, just down the street from Jimmy and Amanda. The following is a random pap smear of thoughts and recollections from the winter just past.

ITEM! FIRST A MONKEY, NOW A BEAR

Since early this year, residents of sleepy Safety Harbor and nearby Clearwater have been reporting sightings of a wild bear lurking in the bushes outsides their stately dwellings. The bear seems to be subsisting on a diet of oranges, honey, and airplane sized bottles of vodka. The police say the bear seems to prefer Grey Goose. Comics luminaries such as Jimmy Palmiotti, Brandon Peterson and even Dan Didio claim to have spotted this inhuman killing machine. Is anybody safe? Maybe he just wants a hug.

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By Jimmy Palmiotti

Its been a relatively quiet week and I was thinking I wouldn’t have much to write about and for the most part I was right, except this morning something happened that… well… was not a everyday thing to say the least.

For the past three days some giant Everglade-type bird has been sitting in one of my Florida home’s trees and it was acting the part of a rooster. As the sun came up each morning, this thing would screech on and off for the next few hours like someone got its nuts in a vice and was trying to extract information. Each morning it has done this and I was dealing with it like any Brooklyn boy would do… I would open up my window and yell at it to shut the hell up. Well, my neighbors found that very funny at least.

So, this morning, the bird is doing his usual “sun up” song and I go to close the windows thinking I might be able to reduce the shriek a tiny bit. I slid back into bed when suddenly I hear a loud thump on the roof of my home. At first, I thought it might be another drunk bird that had their flight path fatally interrupted by the location of my house, but this time it sounded a little bigger in density and I figured I would take a look and see if I could spot what was causing the disturbance.

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By Jimmy Palmiotti

First thing first…I want to talk about the JONAH HEX film.  I do know something about the behind the scenes of it all because, as I mentioned before, one of the producers, Andy Lazar, is actually an old friend of mine. Because of this, I actually get information on a regular basis that is filled with facts. First thing I want to clear up is this quote from the Hollywood Reporter.

“[Megan] Fox is in final negotiations to star opposite Josh Brolin and John Malkovich in ‘Jonah Hex,’ Warner Bros.’ action Western based on the DC Comics character. She also is attached to star and develop ‘Fathom,’ Fox Atomic’s comic book-based underwater adventure.

In “Hex,” being directed by Jimmy Hayward, Fox will play Leila, a gun-wielding beauty and love interest of Hex (Brolin), a scarred bounty hunter tracking a voodoo practitioner (Malkovich) who wants to raise an army of undead to liberate the South.”

OK, first thing we all know is that the cool dudes at Aspen Comics publish FATHOM , not Fox Atomic. And yes, we do know that Fox is going to make the film. Minor thing. Second, what I do know for sure is the casting of MEGAN FOX. This is true, she will be in the Hex movie and that along with the addition of John Malkovich playing Turnbull, well, it’s a pretty awesome thing. I can’t say enough how happy I am with the choices being made on this feature. So far, from producers to actors and now director, Justin and I couldn’t be happier. I think this will be a film we get to see Megan really break out as an actress.

What isn’t true and will probably make the fans of the character lose their lunch is the “voodoo practitioner raising an army of the undead” part. Not true on any level, so stop worrying. Really… you can all relax now.

AGAIN… there is no voodoo dude raising the dead to liberate the South kind of silliness going on at all in this film. I really wanted to clear this up because I spent the last few days at MegaCon being asked a million questions about the Hex movie and throwing this out in my column is a lot easier than losing my voice.

Anyway, stay tuned for more developments on the Hex front and go out today and pick up the second part of the Sawbones storyline illustrated beautifully by David Michael Beck.

MEGACON: The whole weekend was a blast. The show itself was packed each day, a good sign, and I got to hang out and meet a lot of awesome fans, so overall, it really was a big success. What was really nice was that Dan DiDio came to the show and I got to host a few panels with him. Anyone that has never been at these panels is truly missing a really insane time. Dan not only is a hyperactive host, but also regularly jumps off the stage and gets involved with the fans. I haven’t seen that kind of energy in a long time. It was also cool that the MegaCon people asked me to host the BATTLESTAR GALACTICA panel. I have to admit I was a little nervous at first, but the packed room and fantastic actors soon melted away any fears. I am a fan of the show, both the old and the new, so I kind of geeked out a bit doing this, and in doing so took a crappy photo with some of them on my iPhone…and yes, Dirk Benedict is the guy behind my head in the picture.

I GOT A COLD: Seriously, is there anyone you know this past few weeks that hasn’t gotten one cold or another? Everyone I talk to from Spain to California is complaining about the same runny nose/chest congestion/deep cough thing. If this is the lead in to the end of the world, someone please let me know so I can take all my money and go to hedonism in Jamaica for a month. I want to go out with a bang.

PAINKILLER JANE IN GERMANY: I want to publicly thank Veronika Weiss at NBC/Universal in Deutschland for actually sending me a promo poster for the show that just started airing there last week. It is the only printed piece of art I have from the show, which has, to date, had a complete run in over a hundred markets… Pretty amazing if you think about it… Pretty sad if you think about the fact that we didn’t get a dime from any of that. Don’t worry; my lawyers are looking into it.

BACK TO BROOKLYN: Issue 4 is out this week and it features a scene that I think will leave a lasting impression on you. Its loosely based on something that happened to my mom a few years back. At the time, she was in a rehab hospital because of her walking and at the time she was 79 years old. When there, they would keep a patient in a wheelchair at all times for safety reasons and only let them walk when it was time for their therapy a few times a day. One nice sunny day, my mom who was also taking a lot of medication at the time, decided it would be a nice day to wheel herself out of the hospital and get some fresh air. Usually not a problem if you can get past the front desk and security, which was only possible when someone came for you. Well, somehow she managed to get out… go past the front of the building and on to the sidewalk. Let me take a second and set this part up. The hospital is on top of a hill that pretty much faces a 4-lane street and then the Atlantic Ocean across that street.

As you can imagine, she started giving into gravity and rolling down the hill…and fast. My mom’s life would have been cut short except for the kindness of a stranger driving by. He stopped his car, ran out and caught the speeding wheelchair before it hit the busy street and water. He then took her back to the hospital and wheeled her in and yelled at everyone. I got a phone call from the hospital that made no sense to me except for the part that “she is all right.” Well, once I got the full story, everyone got a good yell and really, at that point, my mom was safe.

Back to the comic. In issue 4 of back to Brooklyn, there is a scene with the main character, his mother in a wheelchair and a strip of highway in Brooklyn we call the Belt Parkway. It’s probably the sickest scene Garth and I came up with for the series and I wanted you all to know the inspiration so you understand the book better. That said, unlike the main character Bob, I love my mother like no other son has. Give it a shot. Attached is a special preview of issue 4 for those late to the game.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This preview is intended for mature audiences… more after the cut…

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By Jimmy Palmiotti

Just got back from the New York Comic Con [took some days off after] and had a blast. Want to say thanks to everyone that came by and said they read the blog and especially to the awesome fans at the show that made it all interesting for me. Did a few panels, a few hundred interviews and got to enjoy some decent warm weather while there, unlike the usual February weather that I am used to in N.Y.C.

Coming back to Florida was a mixed bag for me because I love seeing all my friends when in N.Y, but at the same time I couldn’t wait to get back to Florida and dig in to my work, especially since a lot of my projects are all hitting deadlines this week. Yes editors, I know you are reading this.

On with the headlines…

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By Jimmy Palmiotti

WARNING!: This week I say some really stupid shit, curse like a sailor and tell you a great way to get laid. If you are under age, print this out and read it with a flashlight under your covers.

This week sees Amanda Conner and I off to the New York Comic Con. We are excited as hell to see all of you there at the show. Got to be honest, the weather there is total shit… snow Thursday and staying below 30. Oh joy. Why in God’s name would anyone put a friggin’ con in February is beyond me, but we will be there nonetheless. Got a party Thursday night for the Heroes’ Initiative at Dave & Busters in Times Square from 5:30-7:30 .  It’s open to all attendees of the con and me, Joe Quesada, Amanda Conner and some other people I don’t care about will be there begging you to buy them a drink. It’s for a great cause and you should show if you are in the city. Really… its gonna be fun.

Now, about the con…what I think will be the hottest item at the con is the…

BACK TO BROOKLYN T-SHIRTS. Yes, I know it won’t be, but take a look at it! How cool is that and it says “Brooklyn” on it and in really small type it says Garth Ennis and Jimmy Palmiotti. That has to mean something… right? I think wearing this shirt just about anywhere will automatically get you laid… and that goes for the ladies as well. Gals, put this shirt on and walk up to just about any guy and ask them to take you home and ride you like a circus horse. I bet more than 50% of the time you will score. Guys, I am betting about 4% for you… but honestly, those odds are better than most. Odds increase for men if they are also wearing a Ferrari and a three-piece suit. And yes, that’s Amanda giving everyone the big hello wearing one of these beauties. Anyway, its available for $17.95 at the GRAPHITTI booth at the con this week in New York…or order toll free at 1-800-699-0115.

http://www.graphittidesigns.com/

ME, ME, ME: learn more about me and what I really think. Great little interview here.

CONTESTS…YOU LIKE THEM: A buddy of mine put together a trivia contest of sorts where you can win a boatload of crap. It’s trivia about me and Justin Gray and its on our Paperfilms site. Come play or just check out the boards. They are a lot like this blog and we hit it all the time. Say hi to Patrick for us as well… and register, it will get you to all the boards that also feature people like J.G. Jones, Frank Tieri and Chris Gage to name a few.

PIZZA HUT COMMERCIALS: First, fuck you Pizza Hut. No one should be eating this crap if there is an actual pizzeria near your home… second, has anyone seen the uber-insulting commercials where they “go to Italy” and feed “real” Italians their new lasagna? Oh my God, it trumps the Olive Garden “we are bringing Uncle Don from the old country to taste real Italian food at the Olive Garden” commercials, and that’s not easy! To think that made-by-machine-layered-death would fool any Italian in Italy into thinking a top chef made it is an insult to all Italians, all cooks and especially to me because they run those pathetic commercials during prime time all week. Giving your Uncle Don from Italy that crap to eat will automatically get your name removed from the will instantly. The only thing that’s worse is Domino’s and their two cardboard pies for 10 bucks deals, but these commercials have put them in the same category. Hell, since when do we need a loaf of sticky cinnamon sticks with our pizza? They really are trying to kill everyone. That shit is toxic.

Darwyn Cooke makes fun of me for rating every pizza place here in Florida by comparing it to Spumoni Gardens or John’s back in NY, but I realize that I have been spoiled my entire life and it was not till I left the motherland of Brooklyn did I realize how badly the rest of he world had it. The only chain that seems to be trying these days is Carrabba’s Italian Grill. Order the specials when you go there to get the better dishes. So yeah… fuck you Pizza Hut and screw you Domino’s, you both need to focus on the only people buying your crap… college students and lazy people.

THEY BEAT ME TO THE PUNCH: I said last week that I would love to see a 3D porno movie and leave it to the Japanese to read my blog and run with the idea. I predict one messy theatre.

MOVIES: Saw THE WRESTLER and loved it. Always liked Mickey and still do. Less said about it the better, but there was a scene that Amanda and I were both totally frightened by. Not the deli one, but the scene where the older wrestlers did the comic convention thing and signed autographs. Amanda turned to me and asked “will that be us one day” and I told her never… because I would drive my car off a cliff before I let that happen. Also have to give kudos to Marisa Tomei for being 44 and looking as good as she does, naked and all. She is a fantastic actress in my eyes and a fellow Brooklynite and it’s funny that I know someone that used to be her “handler” and another guy whose brother used to date her. Small world.

Also saw the third UNDERWORLD film and I got to say, not my cup of tea. Some decent effects and a good scene here and there but overall, it was weak.  By the numbers story about people I didn’t care about. Biggest problem I had was I just didn’t find anything appealing about the story overall. Maybe the problem was that I didn’t see the second one… so maybe someone can fill me in on that. The three leads tried hard, but the script gave them no love or joy or any sense of being more than a cardboard cut out of hate and anger. In the future, I will suggest that people writing characters take a good look at the people they admire and try to use some of their traits… you will always find a sense of humor, used even in the slightest fashion, will make your characters something the audience can invest time in. I hate having to be negative about anything where a cool guy like Kevin Grevioux is involved, but I noticed he didn’t write the story. Even worse, his character was so cool in the flick but wasn’t able to do much but get orders barked at him by the main character. Another pet peeve of mine is swords that can cut through werewolves and bones like a hot butter knife. Because of stuff like this, the whole movie plays like a violent Saturday morning cartoon. Anyone else see this? Let me know what you thought… I’m interested.

PAYBACK on Blu-Ray is a reworking of the original Mel Gibson movie re-cut and mastered by its director Brian Helgeland. Based on the Donald Westlake novel, the original version that made it to theatres with a softer, kinder cut of the movie. This version does away with that and is much more true to the book. I enjoyed both to tell you the truth, but die-hard fans will want to check this disc out. Got a ton of extras as well as a cool interview with Westlake before he passed away last month. P.S.: Lucy Liu never looked better.

QUICK PICKS: I AM LEGION, published by Devil’s Due and DARK IVORY, by Image. These are the only books that got my money this week.

FINAL PLUG: Out now is Jonah Hex #40 and Back to Brooklyn #3. Take a look and support my madness.

JIMMY P

Hey folks, this week will be a shorter than usual post because I have a number of jobs I am working on and have a guest at my house that gets my undivided attention before anything. Anyway, here we go…

MARK WAID: I think by now people know I am a huge fan of Mark Waid… the man and the author. At a time I totally lacked any confidence to start writing, mark was always around with advice, encouragement and compliments as well… something other writers tend not to do very much, especially since a lot of other writers looked at me as only an inker or someone that was connected with a lot of players and would just figure I got my work by schmoozing or blackmail. Mark was around when I would pitch a few books a week looking for work.

The funny and cool think about Mark is that one conversation with him about character development will make you a better writer instantly and one of the greatest things I have to look forward to, as a fan, for 2009 is the amount of new characters that Mark will be writing at Boom Studios where he also happens to be the Editor-in-Chief. On the Boom site, they have set up a special section of message boards for Mark and I have to tell you… get in there and have some fun and ask him questions and such, because this is a rare opportunity. When you go there you will notice a few other creators stopping by and throwing their weight around as well, so don’t delay… click on the link and tell them I sent you. Hopefully one day when they do a necessary book on Mark’s career, I will be allowed to contribute to the introduction. Until then, verbally volley with the man at: http://markwaid.boom-studios.net/ (more…)

By Jimmy Palmiotti
Been a busy week here working on my full time job and haven’t had a lot of time to run around and be crazy and gather crap for the blog, but I am going to give it my best.

A FEW FILMS:

SLUMDOG MILLIONARE earned their Golden Globes the hard way, by being one of the best movies of the year. Loved it and the energy on screen. Truly wonderful and made for all audiences. It’s a shame its rated R.

Saw REVOLUTIONARY ROAD as well this week and had a really hard time dealing with all the self –pitying of the two characters, and call it bad timing as well when people are losing their jobs and homes, we have to watch a movie about a couple that has both and still can’t act like grown-ups.  The screenplay was, I thought, weak in that it never fully introduced these two people as a family since the kids were really never in more than two quick scenes and the interaction was nil. The biggest problem I had was that I just didn’t get the feeling these two people really loved each other. That alone made it hard to follow them till the end.

Also checked out GRAN TORINO. It’s no secret I am a big fan of Clint Eastwood and this film once again proves how talented this man is. I thought it was funny and sweet and had some really great life lessons. It was a win-win for me.

Last, caught THE UNBORN, which was wonderful fun for the most part till the last 20 minutes when I figured out that they didn’t have all the details worked out where the film was going. It felt like a wish list of a lot of cool things and scenes and then they figured out a way to string them all together… except the end. I was hoping for a bit more from David Goyer since I am a fan and hoping for an R-rated horror show as well.  Don’t get me wrong, it was entertaining and fun, but I think next time he should hit me up and let me look over the script. I think I can help… lol.

CONVENTION TIME:

Yeah, New York and Megacon are coming in a few weeks, and how we prepare around here is Amanda starts working till 4am every day to make up for the lost time and money the cons cost us and I just try to make her life easier by booking flights and hotels. We both love the cons for the same reasons… we get to meet and talk to the fans. Sometimes we make some cash selling prints, but usually it just about covers our expenses. Not a problem with Megacon really since they are taking good care of us. The N.Y. con this year was cool enough to give us a table and admission, but since we are not special guests, coming from Florida and staying near in a hotel, its going to cost us a bit to break even this year. This is true for most of the people in Artists’ Alley folks… remember, only a few people actually walk away with a profit and especially the case with the lesser-known pros and the people introducing their creator-owned books. As a rule I try to support them whenever possible.

BLAIR BUTLER:

For those of you that watch G4, you already know why I consider Blair one of the coolest people inside and outside of comics. Enough cant be said about her, so give her a watch here.

Thanks again for the props, Blair.

VOTE:

Go to the CBG Fan Awards page and vote. Vote for your favorites and while I am here with you, don’t forget everyone’s favorite scarred western star. I know it’s a shameless plug, but think of it as a reminder while all you are thinking about are men in tights. Jonah Hex would shoot them all given the chance.

PLUG FOR A GOOD CAUSE:

The Hero Initiative has announced that annual memberships for the organization are now available for purchase. There are four levels of membership: Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Excelsior!

A Bronze membership costs $29 and includes: a personalized membership card, a quarterly newsletter, and a Hero Initiative sketch card from a randomly selected artist.

A Silver membership costs $99 and includes: all of the Bronze perks, plus a Hero Initiative T-shirt (your choice of Dawn or Hero Hand), a copy of the Marvel Then and Now DVD, and a copy of The Unusual Suspects graphic novel.

A Gold membership costs $250 and includes: all of the Silver perks, plus invitations to Hero Initiative VIP Members-Only parties at 2009′s Wizard World Los Angeles and Wizard World Chicago.

An Excelsior! membership costs $500 and includes: all of the Gold perks, plus your flat item (maximum size 11” x 17”), signed and personalized by the one and only Stan Lee.

To become a member of The Hero Initiative, fans can click here or sign up on-site at The Hero Initiative booth at the following upcoming comic book conventions: Phoenix Cactus Comic-Con, Jan. 23-25; New York Comic Con, Feb. 6-8; WonderCon, Feb. 27 – March 1; Orlando MegaCon, Feb. 27 – March 1; and Wizard World Los Angeles, March 13-15.

SETH KUSHNER AND CHRISTOPHER IRVING:

I thank God Amanda thinks I am attractive, but honestly I don’t feel like a prince away from her, but I got to hand it to a photographer friend of mine named Seth Kushner. Check out his work and the cool photos he has taken of a lot of the N.Y. area creators. The man is brilliant at his craft and a super nice guy. Seth has a skill that I think people seem to take for granted these days and it’s on display on his NYC GRAPHIC blog site.

Go take a look here.

See Paul Pope taking it easy at a burlesque show, marvel at Howard Chaykin’s stern expression… and enjoy a well-written blog by Christopher Irving.

THE GOLDEN GLOBES:

I watched them and it was OK. a lot of the usual B.S. and ass-kissing like all award shows and that’s cool as well. Glad Slumdog, Mickey Rourke, and a few others won, as well as Kate Winslet for THE READER. The thing that really got my attention was Salma Hayek.

I actually met Mickey for a minute in a club in New York in the early nineties and he was pretty cool. He was decked out all in white and so was his lady. I was a huge fan of his YEAR OF THE DRAGON, ANGEL HEART, POPE OF GREENICH VILLAGE, and NINE AND A HALF WEEKS.  Something stuck in my brain about Year of the Dragon back then… the movie focused on a guy that everyone hated and I found it left a lasting impression on me. Anyway, back to Salma… Amanda and I actually had the pleasure of meeting her years ago on Kevin Smith’s set while he was filming DOGMA in Jersey. We took some photos with her and hung around the set and we did what you usually do around Kevin… listen to him talk. Anyway, she was super cool and beautiful and I wanted to post a picture of her NOT from the Golden Globes because we all have seen that this week. I found this photo online and figured I would share.

LINKS OF THE WEEK:

Well, the first is to another comic site… and it features a review of a book I co-write. Still… he makes some good points, lol…

The next link is something you will thank me for. It’s the mother of all links to everything you will ever need. Don’t believe me? Then click here.

At last , an excellent “how to” site for illustrators created by Von. R. Glitschka… check it out. I learned a lot on this and you will too.

That’s it for now folks, more to come next week.

JIMMY P

Welcome to this week’s blog. Lots of random stuff here as expected, so sit back, crack open a cold one, keep a loaded pistol by your side and enjoy. 

JONAH HEX: Pulled this info from a few places today…

“Jimmy Hayward, who directed the animated “Horton Hears a Who!” will make his live-action debut with “Jonah Hex,” the Warner Bros. western based on the DC Comics character. Josh Brolin is attached to star in the film. The character of Hex, known for having the right side of his face disfigured and wearing a Confederate army uniform, was a rough-and-tumble gunslinger and part-time bounty hunter whose adventures always ended in blood. One incarnation of his comic book series saw the Western genre combined with supernatural elements, and it’s this aspect that was featured in Neveldine and Taylor’s script. The studio will likely keep the script, though it’s expected that Hayward will put his stamp on it. “

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By Jimmy Palmiotti

I know, you may hate the name I picked, but honestly, Jacob Becher made a good point in his response last week. His comment:

“I dunno, why not keep it just “Jimmy Palmiotti’s Blog @ Newsarama”?
Your name. Your blog’s web host. Brand recognition.. Nuff said. You’re a household name now. I mean, look at you, I knew the day would come when you’d be picking and choosing what projects to ink. Now you don’t have to ink anything. You always seemed the busiest guy in comics. Why take the focus and attention off yourself and/or Newsarama?”

So it made sense, but I got to say that there were some really fun ones mentioned so I also am going to award a second and third price for my other favorites. Lou Pereira came up with “ Jimmy’s junk” and Stephen Brock came up with “ jimmy’s random crap” an instant classic as well. The post by “BRUCE” came up with the winner though. Simple, has the full name and its easy to translate into several languages. That all said, Bruce, Stephen Brock, Lou Pereira and Jacob Becher, send your mailing address to PALMIO@AOL.COM and I will make sure each of you gets some cool stuff lying around my house that I don’t think anyone will recycle. Thanks for everyone’s posts, even the evil-as-shit ones that called me gay and fruitcake and all that. Hey, I’m the first guy that appreciates funny.

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