Friday, November 13, 2015
Nov 28: Big Planet College Park sale on Local Comic Book Day
Comic strip and books received in early November
New collections and books on comics have been rolling in from publishers for pre-Christmas / Hannukah / Kwanza publicity. I still can't keep up on reading all of the books coming out, so here's the blurb of each of them from Amazon. I would recommend any of these for a fan though, especially Doonesbury and Roy Thomas' new DC World War II collections.
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The Art and Making of The Peanuts Movie
by Jerry Schmitz
Titan, $35
This in-depth book goes behind the scenes of the movie-making process and looks at how the movie continues the tradition and legacy of Peanuts. An unmissable experience.
For the first time ever, in November 2015, Snoopy, Charlie Brown and the rest of the gang we know and love from Charles Schulz's timeless "Peanuts" comic strip will be making their big-screen debut; like they've never been seen before in a CG-animated feature film in 3D.
Three books relating to comic books are all reprints of World War II stories from DC Comics, edited by Roy Thomas, a former writer for the company who specialized in retro stories. The stories can be corny now, but these are nice collections and well-priced.
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For more than 75 years, through countless comics, television, and movies, Batman has been a symbol of strength and perseverance. He was created in 1939, on the brink of World War II -- a volatile time, when we needed a hero most. Who better to come to the rescue than the Caped Crusader? For the first time, Batman: The War Years 1939-1945 details The Dark Knight's involvement in the war and his fight against some very real villains.
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Titan, $25
Four books relating to comic strips have come in already this month:
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The Art and Making of The Peanuts Movie
by Jerry Schmitz
Titan, $35
This in-depth book goes behind the scenes of the movie-making process and looks at how the movie continues the tradition and legacy of Peanuts. An unmissable experience.
For the first time ever, in November 2015, Snoopy, Charlie Brown and the rest of the gang we know and love from Charles Schulz's timeless "Peanuts" comic strip will be making their big-screen debut; like they've never been seen before in a CG-animated feature film in 3D.
Three books relating to comic books are all reprints of World War II stories from DC Comics, edited by Roy Thomas, a former writer for the company who specialized in retro stories. The stories can be corny now, but these are nice collections and well-priced.
by
by
For more than 75 years, through countless comics, television, and movies, Batman has been a symbol of strength and perseverance. He was created in 1939, on the brink of World War II -- a volatile time, when we needed a hero most. Who better to come to the rescue than the Caped Crusader? For the first time, Batman: The War Years 1939-1945 details The Dark Knight's involvement in the war and his fight against some very real villains.
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Titan, $25
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Faster than a speeding bullet! More powerful than a locomotive! It's a bird, it's a plane, it's Superman!
The Man of Steel is one of the most recognized characters in pop culture. Though he may not be from this planet, his dedication to protecting its people is inspiring. Superman: The War Years 1938-1945 shows how his introduction at the start of World War II lifted the spirits of a weary country and brought people the hero they so desperately needed.
With a Wink and a Nod: Cartoonists of the Gilded Age
Kamerer, Tracy L. and Janel D. Trull
Palm Beach, FL: Henry Morrison Flagler Museum, 2015
With a Wink and a Nod: Cartoonists of the Gilded Age will examine the history of Puck and American humor through 72 original drawings created for the magazine from the collection of Jean S. and Frederic A. Sharf, supplemented with published cartoons and more than 20 vintage issues of Puck. Organized by the Flagler Museum, With a Wink and a Nod runs from October 13, 2015, through January 3, 2016. An illustrated catalogue will accompany the exhibition.
Finally, I received a copy of this exhibit catalog book because I know Frederic Sharf, the man who loaned the artwork. Presumably it will eventually be on sale at the museum's website. All the artwork in the book is reproduced from the originals. It's a nicely done, albeit minor, addition to the literature about cartoonists of the 19th century.
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| Not the actual cover) |
With a Wink and a Nod: Cartoonists of the Gilded Age will examine the history of Puck and American humor through 72 original drawings created for the magazine from the collection of Jean S. and Frederic A. Sharf, supplemented with published cartoons and more than 20 vintage issues of Puck. Organized by the Flagler Museum, With a Wink and a Nod runs from October 13, 2015, through January 3, 2016. An illustrated catalogue will accompany the exhibition.
Finally, I received a copy of this exhibit catalog book because I know Frederic Sharf, the man who loaned the artwork. Presumably it will eventually be on sale at the museum's website. All the artwork in the book is reproduced from the originals. It's a nicely done, albeit minor, addition to the literature about cartoonists of the 19th century.
Professional-quality Spider-Man "fan film" made in Falls Church
by Mike Rhode
Spider-Man Lives: A Miles Morales Story is a new short film from Bard Tales Productions, LLC a Falls Church, VA-based firm which specializes in "bringing broadcast level quality productions at competitive pricepoints." Yesterday they contacted me about their new film and said, "A bunch of comic fans in the Washington, DC area thought Marvel should make a Miles Morales film. Since that wasn’t going to happen any time soon, they decided to make their own Miles Morales short." (For non-Spider-Man readers, Marvel Comics introduced a separate "Ultimate" universe a few years, ago, and when Peter Parker was killed, Miles Morales took over his role as Spider-Man.) As of this morning, the film has been online for two days and already has over 100,000 views on Youtube.
The film was impressive enough that I decided to ask producer Chad Horn a few questions about how it was made.
MR: There's obviously some money and a lot of time invested in this. Your site makes it clear that you aren't a bunch of students doing this as a school project. You had enough Ultimate Spider-Man readers in the office to make a fan film?
CH: To really hone our craft we try to do stuff that is way outside of our comfort area every year. Last year we set a girl on fire for a Hunger Games parody, and we had to top it this year. Ivan, the director, was closely watching the Miles Morales story and the potential that he might join the Marvel Cinematic Universe – so when it started to look like that didn’t happen he pitched me on the film. Knowing Jeff Wilhelm (the stunt coordinator who set our Katniss on fire last year) I knew it was something we could try to pull it off even though none of us had any fight scene experience. Our professional line of work being video (television, corporate, political, association, etc.) we knew exactly who to beg, borrow, and steal from to get all of the equipment and personnel to come out to help. All of the pieces kind of fell together at that point and tons of people worked ridiculously hard to pull it off.
We knew we had a lot of introduction to do – Peter Parker is dead, the city is in chaos, Spider-Man is missed greatly – but we also knew we had to get it done as fast as possible to get the audience into the fight scene before we lost their attention.
MR: It looks like you had help from a local tv station?
CH: Francis Abbey, who directed our short film last year, works in the promotions department of WUSA9 and he asked Mike Hydeck if he’d be happy reading our newscast, which he did one morning immediately after their morning newscast. It was just awesome.
CH: Kangaroo was the first villain Miles fought in the comics (Ultimate Comics Fallout #4, a little bit before they started to publish the Ultimate Comics Spider-Man), so we felt that was a fitting villain for Miles on screen. Our super-powered thief who got in over her head was Lana Baumgartner, aka Bombshell, who would go on to team up with Miles for a bit later in the series. It was great to get a subscription to Marvel and write it off as a business expense!
Mr. Horn also answered some questions on Youtube, and I've included one of his answers here.
Hammad Imtiaz asked about the budget.
CH: Budget is a tough thing - we spent only a few thousand dollars (minimum wage for the SAG stunt team, got everyone food, paid a few people minor stipends for their work, spent some money on props and wardrobe). Most of the labor, the locations, equipment were donated by local professionals we have regular working relationships with.
Here's the film, and below that are some more photos from the production. Be sure to watch the film through the well-done animated credits to catch the obligatory Marvel post-credit scene.
Here's some behind the scenes shots:
And some stills from the movie:
Spider-Man Lives: A Miles Morales Story is a new short film from Bard Tales Productions, LLC a Falls Church, VA-based firm which specializes in "bringing broadcast level quality productions at competitive pricepoints." Yesterday they contacted me about their new film and said, "A bunch of comic fans in the Washington, DC area thought Marvel should make a Miles Morales film. Since that wasn’t going to happen any time soon, they decided to make their own Miles Morales short." (For non-Spider-Man readers, Marvel Comics introduced a separate "Ultimate" universe a few years, ago, and when Peter Parker was killed, Miles Morales took over his role as Spider-Man.) As of this morning, the film has been online for two days and already has over 100,000 views on Youtube.The film was impressive enough that I decided to ask producer Chad Horn a few questions about how it was made.
MR: There's obviously some money and a lot of time invested in this. Your site makes it clear that you aren't a bunch of students doing this as a school project. You had enough Ultimate Spider-Man readers in the office to make a fan film?
CH: To really hone our craft we try to do stuff that is way outside of our comfort area every year. Last year we set a girl on fire for a Hunger Games parody, and we had to top it this year. Ivan, the director, was closely watching the Miles Morales story and the potential that he might join the Marvel Cinematic Universe – so when it started to look like that didn’t happen he pitched me on the film. Knowing Jeff Wilhelm (the stunt coordinator who set our Katniss on fire last year) I knew it was something we could try to pull it off even though none of us had any fight scene experience. Our professional line of work being video (television, corporate, political, association, etc.) we knew exactly who to beg, borrow, and steal from to get all of the equipment and personnel to come out to help. All of the pieces kind of fell together at that point and tons of people worked ridiculously hard to pull it off.
We knew we had a lot of introduction to do – Peter Parker is dead, the city is in chaos, Spider-Man is missed greatly – but we also knew we had to get it done as fast as possible to get the audience into the fight scene before we lost their attention.
MR: It looks like you had help from a local tv station?
CH: Francis Abbey, who directed our short film last year, works in the promotions department of WUSA9 and he asked Mike Hydeck if he’d be happy reading our newscast, which he did one morning immediately after their morning newscast. It was just awesome.
MR: I didn't read too much of the Ultimate Universe after the violence of the first few issues of both the X-Men and the Ultimates (an alternate version of the Avengers) turned me off it. I assume this is the ultimate version of the Kangaroo from the 1970s Spider-Man comic? And who's the girl with the glowing hand?
CH: Kangaroo was the first villain Miles fought in the comics (Ultimate Comics Fallout #4, a little bit before they started to publish the Ultimate Comics Spider-Man), so we felt that was a fitting villain for Miles on screen. Our super-powered thief who got in over her head was Lana Baumgartner, aka Bombshell, who would go on to team up with Miles for a bit later in the series. It was great to get a subscription to Marvel and write it off as a business expense!
Mr. Horn also answered some questions on Youtube, and I've included one of his answers here.
Hammad Imtiaz asked about the budget.
CH: Budget is a tough thing - we spent only a few thousand dollars (minimum wage for the SAG stunt team, got everyone food, paid a few people minor stipends for their work, spent some money on props and wardrobe). Most of the labor, the locations, equipment were donated by local professionals we have regular working relationships with.
Here's the film, and below that are some more photos from the production. Be sure to watch the film through the well-done animated credits to catch the obligatory Marvel post-credit scene.
Here's some behind the scenes shots:
And some stills from the movie:
Thursday, November 12, 2015
Art Hondros comic in Sunday's Washington Post Magazine
Be sure to check out this Sunday's Washington Post Magazine (on 11/15) for my comic feature "The Other Dome on the Hill," about the history of the Old Naval Observatory in Foggy Bottom (the one that's older than the present-day one a few miles to the north).
(from Art's Facebook page)
Wednesday, November 11, 2015
Dec 19: The Secrets Behind Superman and Batman:
The Secrets Behind Superman and Batman: Author Marc Tyler Nobleman takes you through a real-life detective story as he reveals mysteries he solved while researching his books Boys of Steel and Bill the Boy Wonder...one of which recently made history.
- Saturday 12/19/15
- 2 p.m. (lasts 1 hour)
- Bethesda Library, 7400 Arlington Road
- ages 8 and up
- free
Tuesday, November 10, 2015
Dec. 3: Fundraiser for Stillbrave at Comic Logic
Comic Logic in Ashburn, Va., will host a Star Wars party/fundraiser Dec. 3. The shop will raffle off two tickets to opening night to "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," which comes with a limo ride to and from the theater. Ticket sales will benefit Stillbrave, a childhood cancer foundation.
Nov 22: Rafer Roberts on Valiant panel at VA Comicon
Valiant Comics (An Honest Discussion) November 22, 2015
11am-12pm (Daytona Room):
Valiant Comics relaunched in 2008 has quickly made its presence felt within the superhero comics genre. With unique characters like Bloodshot, Toyo Harada, and X-O Man of War, Valiant has been offering readers a compelling new universe to explore. Join Armand Hill from Pop Culture Uncovered and Patrick Strange from New Release Wednesday in a discussion about the origins of Valiant under comics legend Jim Shooter and its future.
PR: Game On! Comics switches to delivery service
Their store in Vienna closed last week.
Yes! This is what we do now!
If you want comics hand-delivered right to your door, as often as you like, then Game On! Delivery is for you. Not only do you get your comics brought to you but they are 25% off too!
Sign up with our new service today and get your comics tomorrow!
Monday, November 09, 2015
Nov 14: Chewbacca team at Third Eye Comics
Meet CHEWBACCA actor PETER MAYHEW this Saturday at Third Eye Annapolis!
One of our biggest in-store signing events of all-time goes down this Saturday with our CHEWBACCA x DEADPOOL extravaganza!
We'll have the writer and artist of the new CHEWBACCA series GERRY DUGGAN and PHIL NOTO, alongside CHEWBACCA actor PETER MAYHEW, signing this Saturday!
And, then, also appearing, we'll have MIKE HAWTHORNE who is the artist on the new DEADPOOL series, which Gerry Duggan also happens to write!
In other words: this is going to be an insanely fun event!
Click here for the event details!
PR: Rare Variants Only at Beyond Comics - Nov. 28th
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