“I am the Sandman. And none can escape my dark dreams.”

I am floored by this. I am even more floored by the fact I will have a week to lust have some great art brought to you, and me, by the ComicTWART guys. Chris Samnee, who has been mentioned more than once on blog@, comes today with his rendetion of Wesley Dodds aka the Golden Age Sandman.

Samnee states, “I feel like I’ve drawn Sandman a bunch, so I tried to do something a bit different that what I’ve done before. Can you find all the Sandmans?” I found four: Wesley, Dream, Sandy, and Garret Sanford.

The dynamic angle and great use of lighting makes this just jaw-droppingly gorgeous. Dian would be proud that Samnee made her man look so good.

Tubular senses tingling!

Artist Dean Fraser, most notably known for his blog of characters drawn in Simpsons style (Springfield Punx) has something cool cooking up. While not his own creation, the idea was too good not to talk about. “A young artist named Gerardo recently sent me a neat drawing of his (The American Turtle) based on a story that he and a friend are working on,” Dean explains. “They call it “Marvel Mirage”; a mash-up of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Marvel characters.” He continues with, “[Gerardo] gave me descriptions of the other characters and asked me if I would do up some SP style images for them. I don’t always do this, but I remembered the fun I had at 14 with this kind of thing, so I was more than happy to play around with it myself and throw something together.”

Okay, now who didn’t do something like this growing up. Especially like me, a progeny of the early 80′s. From left to right we have the Iron Turtle (makes sense since Donatello was the brains of the operation), the American Turtle (Leo was always the leader), Shellowine (Raph was the hothead and sometimes the jerk), and Shellpool (perfect fit with Mike being the wisecrack). A better and bigger image of the brothers can be found here.

Though the mash-up doesn’t stop there. Dean posted a follow-up with another creation: Shredneto, and yes, that is exactly who you think it is.

So, I can’t help but wonder who Splinter or April or even Kang could be paired and mixed with. Though if Baxter Stockman would be paired with the Lizard, you could have “Dragonfly”.

See what I did there?

Be sure to also check out Dean’s blog for tons of cool Simponsque art.

This is Spider-Man former love interest Gwen Stacy. The artist is legendary Brian Stelfreeze, which can be noted by his signature on the right side. This is in my first sketchbook and was drawn at DragonCon two years ago (Brian being an Atlanta artist, it’s almost a pre-requisite to make it to that show). I hadn’t been collecting art that long, just a few sketches here and there, mainly at one-day conventions like the, now defunct, Atlanta Comics Expo.

I’ve always seen other people’s sketches and commissions, and at the time the idea was almost foreign to me, almost surreal. “Wait, I give you X amount of money and you’ll draw what I want?” Fan-tastic! After the notion hit my brain, I was off and running. While I do have more than a few sketchbooks now, I’d like to offer a few pointers about the hobby for those who might be interested in getting into it and don’t really know the ropes. (more…)

Over on Ron Salas’ (Popgun, Mice Templar) twitter, he had posted a really interesting Daredevil piece. The fact that it’s a square (6 x 6 no less) makes it all the more interesting, I don’t know that many individuals who do those sort of things, but they are out there. Similar to Chris Samnee, who is known for using negative space in his artwork, Salas here has shown ole Hornhead deflecting shurikens left and right, with his patented radar going off.

If you’re not familiar with Salas’ stuff, you better get on it. In addition to this fine piece, he also has done one of my favorite Westley Dodds sketches ever. Head on over to his blog to see more.

Hey, Rama readers and Potter-heads! Check out this Harry Potter commission done by Ming Doyle at last week’s HeroesCon.

Now, Ming Doyle is not really a new name to the world of comic art, but she’s been getting a lot of attention lately. She’s been featured numerous time over at Project: Rooftop, where she actually won the Grand Prize for the Superman: Man of Style competition. She has a very unique style of  line work and design aesthetics, which can be see more of at her website. I think her style captures the mysticism of Harry’s character and would love to see her tackle Hogwarts sometime down the line.

The New York Times has a great article about Ruby Spears/Sid & Marty Krofft productions’ plan to develop some long-lost Jack Kirby concepts. Kirby apparently created scores of new characters while working as an artist for Ruby-Spears animation in the 1980′s, and the art on display in the piece is supposedly only the tip of the proverbial iceberg.

The article showcases some wonderful, and very 1980′s, character concepts from the king of comics, including what appears to be a superteam of stage magicians, a female, super-villain-fighting Indiana Jones archetype, and a wonderfully off-the-chain, purely Kirby team called “The Gargoids”.

Apparently, there are crates of old Kirby stuff archived by Ruby-Spears, and whether or not Kirby’s legendary status is enough to propel these inventive, but decidedly idiosyncratic creations into the mainstream, is up in the air. At the very least, this stuff could make a kick-as coffee table book.

With the recently-released Book of Eli sporting the talents of The Twelve’s Chris Weston and Marvel 1985′s Tommy Lee Edwards, the Hollywood Reporter has an interesting article up, basically chatting it up with several who straddle the line between comics and film:

“You’ve seen the commercial guys go into directing, you’ve seen music videos guys go into directing; now you’re going to see comic writers and artists,” Spider-Man: Reign’s Kaare Andrews told the Reporter, after working on the indie-horror film “Altitude.” “I think that the one thing we have the others don’t is the sense of storytelling.”

Names such as Hellboy’s Mike Mignola, The Lone Ranger’s John Cassaday, Astonishing X-Men’s Joss Whedon and many others are interviewed in this piece. One thing that particularly surprised me is the discussion of the pay differentiation — how in comics you’re being paid by the page, whereas in Hollywood they are being paid by the hour. Considering Hollywood’s budget is astronomically higher than anything the Big Two is printing, that may certainly be a financial lure for a formerly-starving artist.

Want to hear more about the bridge between comics and film? Check the rest of the interview here.

I didn’t expect to start my day seeing a picture of a body-painted Witchblade. But because of Great White Snark and ComicsAlliance, I did:

Apparently this bit of body art was done by FleshandColor.com for the 2008 Dragon Con, and (perhaps thankfully?) doesn’t look as scabby as the real armor would. Because that might look weird in real life.

Want to see more images of the would-be Sara Pezzini? Take a gander over at GWS’ web site, right here.

Hi, all. Miss me?

I’ve returned to bring you yet more on political cartoons: in this case, a traveling exhibition on “cartoons in conflict,” with international editorial cartoonists’ take on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It’s sponsored by a peace group with a pretty amazing story–check out the video, and the exhibit if you’re in NYC.

My lord, has it really been FIVE YEARS since the beyond senseless murder of metal guitar god Dimebag Darrell? The music community was rocked to its core this month in 2004 when a deranged “fan” shot and killed Pantera guitarist “Dimebag/Diamond” Darrell Abbott (along with 3 others) in a Columbus, Ohio, music club while performing with then-current band Damageplan.

In recognizing this tragic event’s 5-year anniversary, Revolver magazine is doing a cover feature in tribute to the accomplished and widely admired guitar legend (of which you can count your Reverend a fan). Of special note to comic book fans is the talent responsible for the original cover to this issue, graphic artist Tim Bradstreet. Along with work on the Punisher, readers are likely familiar with his lengthy run of covers of Vertigo’s Hellblazer series.

From Revolver’s press release:

REVOLVER Magazine has teamed with renowned and award-winning graphic illustrator Tim Bradstreet (The Punisher, Hellblazer, “Vampire: The Masquerade”) for a Pantera Vulgar Display Of Power commemorative issue, celebrating guitarist Dimebag Darrell on the fifth anniversary of his death. The issue–available only on newsstands from December 22 through February 22–captures the defining moment in Pantera’s career and features Bradstreet’s stark and powerful cover illustration of the classic 1992 album cover photo.

The REVOLVER Vulgar Display Of Power issue includes an additional Pantera illustration by Bradstreet, rare photos, as well as exclusive interviews with all surviving Pantera band members (Phil Anselmo, Vinnie Paul, Rex Brown); Dime’s longtime girlfriend Rita Haney; album producer Terry Date; musicians Rob Halford, Rob Zombie, Sean Yseult, Scott Ian, Zakk Wylde, Nick Bowcott; and other key friends and associates. In fact, this marks the first piece to include interviews with both Phil Anselmo and Vinnie Paul since the 2006 VH1 “Behind The Music” on Pantera.

In this issue, REVOLVER Magazine and writer Jon Wiederhorn debunk the myth behind the Vulgar Display Of Power album cover photo shoot and reveal the stories behind how “Diamond Darrell” became “Dimebag Darrell” and the origins of Dime’s signature “Black Tooth Grin” drink.

Each newsstand copy of REVOLVER’s Vulgar Display Of Power issue will include a special memorabilia pack with an authentic replica of a Vulgar Display Of Power tour backstage laminate and concert ticket, a Pantera show flyer, and sticker. In addition, REVOLVER will give away Tim Bradstreet’s original hand-drawn cover art for the issue, an Affliction Pantera Signature Series T-shirt, Dean Dimebag Dimebonics ML Electric Guitar with Case, Dunlop MXR DD11 Dime Distortion Pedal and DB01 Dimebag Signature Wah Pedal, Seymour Duncan Dimebucker Pickup, and ddrum Vinnie Paul Signature Snare. Look for contest details in this issue and enter online at www.REVOLVERmag.com.

Fans can also purchase a highly limited-edition (only 250 printed) Vulgar Display of Power Commemorative T-shirt featuring Bradstreet’s cover illustration at www.REVOLVERmag.com/store.

Greetings, Blog@teers — have we got some news for you!

For the past six months, a webcomic has been featured by Ain’t It Cool News and CNN, celebrated for its action, characterization, and respect for the blaxploitation films that inspired it. As its creator notes, it’s Super Fly meets The Equalizer, the step-child of Shaft and Rip Kirby, a love letter to the Black action films of the 1970s. For some, it’s street justice like you’ve never seen — and for those on the run, well, all that’s coming their way is a WORLD OF HURT.

And in keeping with our mission to deliver the best and the brightest to you, our readers, we are proud to announce that WORLD OF HURT will be making its second home at Blog@Newsarama, as the latest in our weekly webcomics series. We sat down with writer/artists Jay Potts about the comic, his blaxploitation inspirations, and what the future holds for Isaiah “Pastor” Hurt.

Newsarama: Jay, just to start out with, can you tell new readers a little bit about what World of Hurt is about?

Jay Potts: WORLD OF HURT is a weekly, black & white serial adventure webcomic that is my personal love letter to the Black action films of the 1970s and the Golden Age of newspaper adventure strips.  It is set in the early1970s in the city of Pointe Blanc, a fictional version of San Francisco and Oakland, and follows the exploits of a Black troubleshooter named Isaiah “Pastor” Hurt.

Nrama: In terms of getting to know you a little bit — what’s your background been in terms of comics? Is World of Hurt your first one, or have you been building up this?

Potts: I’ve been drawing since the age of four and have been a comic book fan for just as long.  However, it wasn’t until I entered the graduate program in Sequential Art at the Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, GA in 1997, that I received any formal instruction.  What I learned there about storytelling and composition, and the exposure to an incredible range of talent, was truly eye-opening.

(more…)

Warner Home Video keeps putting all of DC Comics’ animated properties on DVD, and my shelving may need a expansive upgrade. Courtesy of TV Shows on DVD (THE BEST website devoted to, well, TV shows on DVD), WB made available a press release on their latest offering from Super Friends: Season 1, Volume 1.

You can read the press release for all the details of this January 5, 2010 release, but the main gist of this is that we finally got the “Wendy & Marvin Years,” the ones that first put Super Friends on the map. I believe they are also the only SF episodes narrated by the late great Ted Knight, a voice acting staple of DC Comics’ animated output in the 1960s. My only complaint at the moment is the DVD cover art. I never have a problem with the classic stock art by Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez, but considering that every previous release did something a little more original, refurbishing art from the actual series, this seemed like an uncharacteristically lazy way to go. Plus I can get real nitpicky and point out that the Wonder Woman on this cover is sporting a costume that did not grace the pages of her own comic until almost 10 years later. Considering that this volume has the distinction of featuring Wendy Marvin & Wonder Dog (not to mention guest appearances by the Flash, Green Arrow and Plastic Man), it’s a shame they didn’t work with that into a more unique cover design.

The internet loves you, and it brings you fun things. Today:

Twilight-haters will no doubt have even more to complain about, but I don’t care: Stephenie Meyer’s The Host to be made into a movie.

From Wired: Get to know the Surrogates comic before the movie hits.

Fun little comic page by Matthew Sheret and Julia Scheele.

Jason Aaron has some thoughts on Scalped. You know, the best comic that comes out each month. (He didn’t say that. I did.)

Another story from Wired. I don’t know why I’m linking it, really. Those illustrations are sort of cool, I guess. Who’s the artist? Oh, some guy named Ryan Kelly…

One of the only reviews of Jennifer’s Body that I’ve seen that doesn’t spend half its time complaining about Diablo Cody (see comments on Stephenie Meyer).

I’ll repost this under events, but I found it interesting: from Johanna Draper Carlson, a lecture by Noah Berlatsky, whose blog examines classic Wonder Woman comics.

I am off to Bergen Street Comics’ release party for Beasts of Burden tonight, so I’ll save my thoughts on the comic for tomorrow. For now, have some linkage:

Johanna Draper Carlson did not much like the Whiteout movie.

Warren Ellis asked artists to Remake/Remodel Black Orchid. He must’ve asked VERY nicely…

Some thoughts on comics and race in an interesting discussion thread on Racialicious.

The Rumpus brings you a review of Shane Acker’s 9.

I have to say I sort of miss the days when Brian Wood did his own DMZ covers, but there was something about JP Leon’s cover to #45 that really struck me. I’m the furthest thing from an art critic, but there’s something oddly intense about the shadowy back here, the broad shoulders–funny how I never pictured Matty Roth looking threatening, menacing, but suddenly he does here, and it’s not just the gun.

Jamie McKelvie

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(click through for larger version) Ryan Kelly:

Fiona Staples:

Becky Cloonan:

(again, click through for larger)

Molly Crabapple:

It’s Thursday. I have had too much caffeine and haven’t bought my comics for the week yet. Have some links.

Boondock Saints comics? Hell yes.

Becky Cloonan‘s ongoing webcomic-saga of her “feud” with Amy Reeder Hadley just keeps getting funnier.

Warren Ellis thinks you should buy this print from Laurenn McCubbin. I think you should buy it for me.

One of my favorite political bloggers, Spencer Ackerman, is now the star of a comic book. Where the heck is MY comic book, people?

Jonathan Lethem on the “Squandered promise of science fiction.”

I’m sure Hawkman and Hawkgirl would beg to differ!

Courtesy of Player vs. Player, August 10, 2009.

From the UPI…

Really, if you want to push a right-wing agenda, you may want the help of a dictionary. I’ll let the Chicago Sun-Times‘ Richard Roeper explain:

Just a few ways in which Obama’s policies differ from a socialist agenda: socialism would mean no health insurance companies; decriminalization of drugs and prostitution; immediate withdrawal of all troops on foreign soil; a certain cap on all salaries in any situation and public funding for the media. I don’t see the White House calling for such measures, do you?

What say ye? Inventive comic tie-in? Guerrilla propaganda at its finest?

Regular readers here know I love Joelle Jones’ art. You’ll also probably know I love Joss Whedon. So Joelle Jones character sketches for Dr. Horrible comics? WIN.

You can get Phonogram vs. The Fans, the limited-edition Phonogram fanzine that I wrote about here, on Etsy for the low, low price of $5. You want this.

Gail Simone, good and pissed about the EA Games “booth babes” debacle.

Racialicious has a review from the first Asian American Comic Con.

Johanna Draper Carlson talks Girlamatic, which I’d somehow missed out on, so read what she has to say.

One of my favorite bloggers, Renegade Evolution, talks about girls and gaming: “Hey baby, why all the aggro?”

Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan have a cool Op-Ed in the New York Times about “why we need vampires.” Lately I’ve been doing a good bit of thinking about why vampire stories seem to appeal to a teen girl demographic in particular, so this fit right in.

And via BUST, Johnny Depp is set to play a vampire in yet another Tim Burton-helmed picture, Dark Shadows.

Stephenie Meyer, author of Twilight, is set to test the theory that fans are really just out for the hot boys at Comic-Con–she’s going to star in her own Female Force comic. (Can I mention yet again that the name “female force” creeps me out? Referring to women as “females” sounds so animalistic to me…)

Finally, on that note, an interview with Francesca Lia Block on her new vampire young adult novel, Pretty Dead. Since one of the things I’m interested in is why the vampire romance always seems to be older male vampire and young mortal girl (Angel/Buffy, Edward/Bella, etc.) I’m especially intrigued with Block’s book since it reverses that dynamic.

If you’ll excuse me, I think I’m off to watch Angel…