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Monday, March 29, 2010

RIP and Godspeed to our friend Dick Giordano--1932-2010

Myself with friends Pat Bastienne, Dick Giordano, and Michael Golden. Heroes Con Charlotte, circa 2008.

I can not really express how sad it is when people I have respected and admired for so long start to leave us. Dick numbers in those oft remembered who befriended me when I first arrived in NYC and began working at DC Comics all those years ago. He was a wonderful, compassionate and funny man.

After my time at DC and past my years at Marvel, Dick and Pat were often dinner companions for our Conneticut crew... there was this one steakhouse that he just loved. I remember the last time he, Pat, Golden and myself met there for dinner shortly before they were to move to Florida. It is for some reason etched in my mind. One of those events that you know marks a change. Something that will not return.

After that, we looked forward to seeing Pat and Dick at Heroes Charlotte, MegaCon...and the few other shows he was able to attend.

A week ago, I got an e-mail from Pat. Dick was back in the hospital. Not knowing how bad it really was, we thought we'd have this week to call after getting home from Planet ComiCon. That was not the case... We always think we have more time...

All I can say now is that my thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and all who loved him. And, as for me....I'm sure that Golden and I will plan our own dinner, a night out, to toast Mr. Giordano at one of the places he loved best... that little steak house down the road.

Here's to you, Dick. I know Golden will make an appropriate toast. He respected you so much, as do I.

Godspeed.

Love,
Renee


Dick Giordano Passes Away at 77

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=25442

by Kiel Phegley, News Editor


Sat, March 27th, 2010 at 11:04AM (PDT) | Updated: March 28th, 2010 at 8:11PM

Giordano's self portrait from the cover of Two Morrows' "Changing Comics One Day At A Time."

This morning, CBR News learned the sad news that longtime comics creator and executive Dick Giordano has died, confirming his passing shortly thereafter. He leaves behind an industry legacy of lush, memorable linework as an artist, character reinvention and creation as an editor and executive and hard-working professionalism across the board. He was 77.

A native of New York City, Giordano got his start in comics with Connecticut publishing outfit Charlton Comics as a freelance penciler and inker in the early 1950s, and by 1965 had risen in the ranks to become the company's Editor-in-Chief, leading a resurgence of the publisher's "Action Heroes" like the Blue Beetle and Captain Atom under the pen of legendary Steve Ditko. At Charlton, Giordano also helped give a start to many future legends including Dennis O'Neil and Jim Aparo.

In the late '60s, Giordano went to work for DC Comics where aside from performing editorial duties for a number of years, he also served as an inker. Eventually, he took up a position with Neal Adams' Continuity Studios, inking many memorable projects for Adams and others including the superhero genre-redefining "Batman" and "Green Lantern/Green Arrow" as well as blockbuster specials like "Superman vs. the Amazing Spider-Man" and "Superman Vs. Muhammad Ali." His trademark was his thick expressive brushwork which always stood out with a personal flair while never detracting from the realistic cartooning of collaborators like Adams and Ross Andru.

Giordano rejoined the editorial ranks of DC in 1980, rising to the position of Executive Editor in 1983 (a position he would hold for a decade). As head of DC's creative output, Giordano is largely credited with leading the charge on some of the most important comics of the past 30 years including "Crisis On Infinite Earths" (which he also inked) and "Watchmen" which started initially as a story of the Charlton Comics characters he had helped buy for DC after that company's demise.

Later in life, Giordano continued to work often, nailing deadlines as a penciler and inker for many publishers, starting up the brief Future Comics label and being instrumental in the organization of the fund now known as the Hero Initiative.

"Few could ever hope to match what he accomplished in his chosen profession, or to excel while maintaining great humor, compassion for his peers and an unwavering love for the art form," said Giordano's friend and longtime creative partner Bob Layton. "His unique vision changed the comic industry forever and all of those who work in the business continue to share in the benefits of his sizable contributions. I have been honored to call him a business partner, mentor and dear friend throughout the majority of my lifetime. We will not see his like again."

DC Comics current executive team also offered their thoughts on Giordano's legacy. "When I was just trying to break into comics back in 1986, I received a lot of form rejection letters, including a very gracious one from Dick at DC Comics. On the DC letterhead, he took the time to pen an additional personal note which I still cherish today. 'Looking good – keep working at it.' Those few words kept this often dejected young artist hanging in there as it took many many more submissions before I finally broke into comics," said Jim Lee, Co-Publisher, DC Comics.

"Thank you, Dick, for your words of encouragement, all the years of amazing art and editorial leadership at DC. And finally, for showing us artists how a great inker gets it done."

"Dick Giordano was an inspiration for me when I first joined DC Comics,” said Dan DiDio, Co-Publisher, DC Comics. "He was an innovator and an industry leader as both a creator and a creative executive. He was truly one of the greats in the business."

UPDATE 12:20 PM PDT - "Dick Giordano has left a lasting legacy as a comic book artist and as a DC Comics executive," said Diane Nelson, President, DC Entertainment. "I join the industry in recognizing his tremendous contribution to DC Comics and send my sympathy to his family and friends."

UPDATE March 28, 2010 - 7:10 PM PDT - Neal Adams had this to share: "Inking my work was the LEAST significant thing that Dick did for-meant to me. I loved Dick like a brother and a friend. He cared for and loved me. I was made better by him. For a time, we were partners, on a handshake. NO ONE didn't like Dick Giordano and respect him. Who can say that? Look at that face. JUST,...look at it."

"The Spectrum#17" Artbook results announced-- Michael Golden in Stellar Line-up!


Great to see Mr. G. on this list, along with other good friends like Michael Kaluta, Arthur Adams, and many more. Congrats Guys! --R. :-)

THE SPECTRUM 17 ARTIST LIST

http://www.spectrumfantasticart.com/full_content.php?article_id=1148&full=yes&pbr=1

Congratulations to all of the artists with work selected by the jury for Spectrum 17!

Letters with all of the details regarding what works were selected, what and how to deliver repro materials, and the due date will be going out in the next few weeks. If your name is on the list and you've moved, please let us know ASAP!

If your name ISN'T on the list, your work didn't receive enough votes to be included in the annual (each work has to receive a simple majority). Don't be discouraged! With nearly 6000 works to review, this was by far the toughest year yet for the judges to make their selections. Whether you made the list or not, everyone deserves a round of applause for making the process so difficult.

Now...on to the list!


A

Kei Acedera
Gino Acevedo
Arthur Adams
Mark Alfrey
Scott Altmann
Kalman Andrasofszky
Steve Argyle
Tohru Patrick Awa
Chris Ayers

B

Daren Bader
Volkan Baga
Juan Balandran
Armand Baltazar
Paolo Barbieri
Bayard Baudoin
Andrew Bawidamann
Chris Beatrice
Chad E. Beatty
Julie Bell
Jasmine Becket-Griffith
Steven Belledin
James Bennett
Wes Benscoter
Rick Berry
Ed Binkley
Cathie Bleck
Paul Bonner
Sam Bosma
Zoltan Boros
David Bowers
Tim Bowers
Andy Brase
Aleksi Briclot
Brom
Tim Bruckner
Gil Bruvel
Sam Burley
Chris Buzelli

C

Ben Caldwell
Antonio Javier Caparo
Greg Capullo
Bill Carman
Kristina Carroll
Robert Carter
Clint Cearley
John Cebollero
Jason Chan
Peter Chan
Jeffrey Chang
Soi H. Che
Echo Chernik
Ching Cia Ee
Chippy
Bobby Chiu
Frank Cho
Scott Chou
Charlene Chua
Kali Ciesemier
Ciruelo
Coro
Stephen Crowe
Raúl Cruz

D

Daarken
Matt Dangler
Thom Davidson
Cameron Scott Davis
Craig Davison
Michael J. Deas
David Delamare
Mélanie Delon
Camilla D'Errico
Peter de Sève
Eric Deschamps
Brian Despain
Joe DeVito
Zelda Devon
Shane Devries
Julie Dillon
Leo & Diane Dillon
Diana Diriwaechter
Matt Dixon
Daniel Dociu
Horia Dociu
Christopher L. Donovan
Dan Dos Santos
Allen Douglas
Matt Duquette
John Dunivant

E

Les Edwards
Bob Eggleton
Jesper Ejsing
Craig Elliott
Mark Evans

F

Jeff Feligno
Peter Ferguson
Steve Firchow
Scott Fischer
Colin Fix
Scott Flanders
José Emroca Flores
Thomas Fluharty
Eric Fortune
Jon Foster
Tom Fowler
Xiaochen Fu

G

Marc Gabbana
Jeremy Geddes
Justin Gerard
Donato Giancola
E.M. Gist
Chris Golden
Michael Golden
Guillermo Gonzalez
Didier Graffet
Lucas Graciano
Frank Grau
Igor Grechanyk
Rebecca Guay
James Gurney
Scott Gustafson

H

August Hall
Paul Harding
John Harris
David Hartman
Harunoichi
Ryohei Hase
Jeff Haynie
Andrew Hem
Richard Hescox
Merilee Heyer
Stephen Hickman
Ian Hill
Woodrow J. Hinton III
David Ho
Alex Horley
Austin Hsu
Kurt Huggins
Robert Hunt

I

Illworx

J

Tyler Jacobson
Ryan Johnson
Android Jones
Jaime Jones
Patrick J. Jones
Vincent Joubert
Eric Joyner

K

Michael Wm Kaluta
Karlsimon
Agata Kawa
McLean Kendree
Steven Kenny
Kristin Kest
Paul Kidby
Tom Kidd
Michael Komarck
Kekai Kotaki
Thomas Kovach
Vance Kovacs
Andrea Kowch
Thomas S. Kuebler
Anita Kunz
Frans Tedja Kusuma

L

Dave Laub
Jacob Romeo Lecuter
Sacha Lees
P.A. Lewis
Sonny Liew
Gary Lippincott
Wayne Lo
Todd Lockwood
Howard Lyon

M

Larry MacDougall
Jim Mahfood
Mairuzu
Don Maitz
Emmanuel Malin
Gregory Manchess
Slawomir Maniak
Matt Manley
Julie Mansergh
Andrew Martin
Stephan Martiniere
Jorge Mascarenhas
Yukari Masuike
Jack Matthews
Jonathan Matthews
Gabriel Matula
Chris McGrath
Erin McGuire
Dave McKean
David Meng
Petar Meseldzija
Mia
Aaron Miller
Ian Miller
Thomas O. Miller
Bruce D. Mitchell
Christopher Moeller
Jean-Baptiste Monge
Clayburn Moore
Annaliese Moyer
Lee Moyer
Sean A. Murray

N

Mark Nagata
Vince Natale
Mark A. Nelson
Winona Nelson
Mark Newman
James Ng
Victo Ngai
Tran Nguyen
Cliff Nielsen
Terese Nielsen
Billy Norrby
Lawrence Northey

O

Tim O'Brien
William O'Connor
Rafal Olbinski
Yuta Onoda
Glen Orbik
Eric Orchard

P

Augie Pagan
Nina M. Pak
John Jude Palencar
Anthony Palumbo
Dave Palumbo
Ryan Pancoast
Doug Panton
Andy Park
Brad Parker
Michael Pedro
Eduardo Peña
Michael Phillippi
Craig Phillips
John Picacio
Jerome Podwill
R.K. Post
Dave Pressler

Q

Nigel Quarless
Joe Quinones

R

Chris Rahn
Patricia Raubo
Omar Rayyan
Kirk Reinert
Owen Richardson
Mike Rivamonte
Paolo Rivera
Irvin Rodriguez
José Roosevelt
Virginie Ropars
J.S. Rossbach
Luis Royo
Steve Rude
Robh Ruppel

S

Carlos Ostos Sabugal
Ritchie Sacilioc
Dan Santat
Dominick Saponaro
Marc Sasso
Bente Schlick
Dan Seagrave
Dave Seeley
David Seidman
Erwan Seure-Le Bihan
Cynthia Sheppard
Rob Sheridan
R. Ward Shipman
James Shoop
David Silva
Andrew Silver
Thomas Simpson
Andrew J. Sinclair
Jeff Slemons
Matt Smith
Herman Smorenburg
Katarina Sokolova
Allen Song
Joel Spector
Hethe Srodawa
Derek Stenninh
David Stervenson
Matt Stewart
Frank Stockton
Barron Storey
William Stout
Philip Straub
Carissa Susilo
Raymond Swanland
Greg Swearingen
Justin Sweet
Carisa Swenson
Sym 7

T

Steven Tabbutt
Chuck Tam
Sharon Tancredi
Su Hai Tao
Carolina Tello
Ben Templesmith
Thom Tenery
Heather Theurer
Brian Thompson
Keith Thompson
Richard Tilbury

V

Brian Valenzuela
Boris Vallejo
Cyril Van Der Haegen
Joe Vaux
Eric Velhagen
Ursula Vernon
Charles Vess
Vincent Villafranca
Raoul Vitale
Adam Volker

W

Shelly Wan
John Watkiss
Stan Watts
Jon Wayshak
Sam Weber
Claire Wendling
Michael Whelan
Tom Whittaker
Grim Wilkins
Allen Williams
Doug Williams
Kent Williams
Martin Wittfooth
Shawn Wood
Alena Wooten
Annie Wu

X

Yang Xueguo

Y

Paul Youll
Stephen Youll

Z

Jaime Zollars
Mark Zug
Chrissie Zullo
Rene Zwaga

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Words & Pictures in Drama--A letter from David Mamet



My real friend and Facebook friend, Larry Hama, posted this today, and I think it contains a lot of interesting information. If you are in the business of writing... for anything... always food for thought. I agree with much of it. As a comic book editor and writer, I have always thought that the words and the pictures should provide different information to add to the whole, and not overly repeat each other, etc. etc. So, I can relate...Give it a read and see what you think. --R.
____


I was having a pretty uneventful day at the office until I saw this post about a memo written by writer/director David Mamet crop up on my Twitter feed. It’s a note that Mamet addressed to the writing staff of the now-canceled CBS show The Unit, in which he lays out some guiding principles for compelling television. According to Movieline, the memo first surfaced recently at Ink Canada.

When I saw that the memo contained nuggets of wisdom such as “ANY TIME TWO CHARACTERS ARE TALKING ABOUT A THIRD, THE SCENE IS A CROCK OF SHIT,” and “IF THE SCENE BORES YOU WHEN YOU READ IT, REST ASSURED IT *WILL* BORE THE ACTORS, AND WILL, THEN, BORE THE AUDIENCE, AND WE’RE ALL GOING TO BE BACK IN THE BREADLINE,” I knew the whole thing would be a must-read. Mamet also takes time to lay into TV executives, which he refers to as “penguins.” Overall, it offers some amusing and piercing insights into what makes good writing and storytelling. I’m left wondering though: Does Mamet’s work always live up to his high standards? Hit the jump for the full memo, and savor the intensity (capital letters are from the original).



TO THE WRITERS OF THE UNIT
GREETINGS.

AS WE LEARN HOW TO WRITE THIS SHOW, A RECURRING PROBLEM BECOMES CLEAR.
THE PROBLEM IS THIS: TO DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN *DRAMA* AND NON-DRAMA. LET ME BREAK-IT-DOWN-NOW.

EVERYONE IN CREATION IS SCREAMING AT US TO MAKE THE SHOW CLEAR. WE ARE TASKED WITH, IT SEEMS, CRAMMING A SHITLOAD OF *INFORMATION* INTO A LITTLE BIT OF TIME.

OUR FRIENDS. THE PENGUINS, THINK THAT WE, THEREFORE, ARE EMPLOYED TO COMMUNICATE *INFORMATION* — AND, SO, AT TIMES, IT SEEMS TO US.
BUT NOTE:THE AUDIENCE WILL NOT TUNE IN TO WATCH INFORMATION. YOU WOULDN’T, I WOULDN’T. NO ONE WOULD OR WILL. THE AUDIENCE WILL ONLY TUNE IN AND STAY TUNED TO WATCH DRAMA.

QUESTION:WHAT IS DRAMA? DRAMA, AGAIN, IS THE QUEST OF THE HERO TO OVERCOME THOSE THINGS WHICH PREVENT HIM FROM ACHIEVING A SPECIFIC, *ACUTE* GOAL.

SO: WE, THE WRITERS, MUST ASK OURSELVES *OF EVERY SCENE* THESE THREE QUESTIONS.

1) WHO WANTS WHAT?
2) WHAT HAPPENS IF HER DON’T GET IT?
3) WHY NOW?

THE ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS ARE LITMUS PAPER. APPLY THEM, AND THEIR ANSWER WILL TELL YOU IF THE SCENE IS DRAMATIC OR NOT.

IF THE SCENE IS NOT DRAMATICALLY WRITTEN, IT WILL NOT BE DRAMATICALLY ACTED.

THERE IS NO MAGIC FAIRY DUST WHICH WILL MAKE A BORING, USELESS, REDUNDANT, OR MERELY INFORMATIVE SCENE AFTER IT LEAVES YOUR TYPEWRITER.

*YOU* THE WRITERS, ARE IN CHARGE OF MAKING SURE *EVERY* SCENE IS DRAMATIC.

THIS MEANS ALL THE “LITTLE” EXPOSITIONAL SCENES OF TWO PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT A THIRD. THIS BUSHWAH (AND WE ALL TEND TO WRITE IT ON THE FIRST DRAFT) IS LESS THAN USELESS, SHOULD IT FINALLY, GOD FORBID, GET FILMED.

IF THE SCENE BORES YOU WHEN YOU READ IT, REST ASSURED IT *WILL* BORE THE ACTORS, AND WILL, THEN, BORE THE AUDIENCE, AND WE’RE ALL GOING TO BE BACK IN THE BREADLINE.

SOMEONE HAS TO MAKE THE SCENE DRAMATIC. IT IS NOT THE ACTORS JOB (THE ACTORS JOB IS TO BE TRUTHFUL). IT IS NOT THE DIRECTORS JOB. HIS OR HER JOB IS TO FILM IT STRAIGHTFORWARDLY AND REMIND THE ACTORS TO TALK FAST. IT IS *YOUR* JOB.

EVERY SCENE MUST BE DRAMATIC. THAT MEANS: THE MAIN CHARACTER MUST HAVE A SIMPLE, STRAIGHTFORWARD, PRESSING NEED WHICH IMPELS HIM OR HER TO SHOW UP IN THE SCENE.

THIS NEED IS WHY THEY *CAME*. IT IS WHAT THE SCENE IS ABOUT. THEIR ATTEMPT TO GET THIS NEED MET *WILL* LEAD, AT THE END OF THE SCENE,TO *FAILURE* – THIS IS HOW THE SCENE IS *OVER*. IT, THIS FAILURE, WILL, THEN, OF NECESSITY, PROPEL US INTO THE *NEXT* SCENE.

ALL THESE ATTEMPTS, TAKEN TOGETHER, WILL, OVER THE COURSE OF THE EPISODE, CONSTITUTE THE *PLOT*.

ANY SCENE, THUS, WHICH DOES NOT BOTH ADVANCE THE PLOT, AND STANDALONE (THAT IS, DRAMATICALLY, BY ITSELF, ON ITS OWN MERITS) IS EITHER SUPERFLUOUS, OR INCORRECTLY WRITTEN.

YES BUT YES BUT YES BUT, YOU SAY: WHAT ABOUT THE NECESSITY OF WRITING IN ALL THAT “INFORMATION?”

AND I RESPOND “*FIGURE IT OUT*” ANY DICKHEAD WITH A BLUESUIT CAN BE (AND IS) TAUGHT TO SAY “MAKE IT CLEARER”, AND “I WANT TO KNOW MORE *ABOUT* HIM”.

WHEN YOU’VE MADE IT SO CLEAR THAT EVEN THIS BLUESUITED PENGUIN IS HAPPY, BOTH YOU AND HE OR SHE *WILL* BE OUT OF A JOB.

THE JOB OF THE DRAMATIST IS TO MAKE THE AUDIENCE WONDER WHAT HAPPENS NEXT. *NOT* TO EXPLAIN TO THEM WHAT JUST HAPPENED, OR TO*SUGGEST* TO THEM WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.

ANY DICKHEAD, AS ABOVE, CAN WRITE, “BUT, JIM, IF WE DON’T ASSASSINATE THE PRIME MINISTER IN THE NEXT SCENE, ALL EUROPE WILL BE ENGULFED IN FLAME”
WE ARE NOT GETTING PAID TO *REALIZE* THAT THE AUDIENCE NEEDS THIS INFORMATION TO UNDERSTAND THE NEXT SCENE, BUT TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO WRITE THE SCENE BEFORE US SUCH THAT THE AUDIENCE WILL BE INTERESTED IN WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.

YES BUT, YES BUT YES *BUT* YOU REITERATE.

AND I RESPOND *FIGURE IT OUT*.

*HOW* DOES ONE STRIKE THE BALANCE BETWEEN WITHHOLDING AND VOUCHSAFING INFORMATION? *THAT* IS THE ESSENTIAL TASK OF THE DRAMATIST.

AND THE ABILITY TO *DO* THAT IS WHAT SEPARATES YOU FROM THE LESSER SPECIES IN THEIR BLUE SUITS.

FIGURE IT OUT.

START, EVERY TIME, WITH THIS INVIOLABLE RULE: THE *SCENE MUST BE DRAMATIC*. it must start because the hero HAS A PROBLEM, AND IT MUST CULMINATE WITH THE HERO FINDING HIM OR HERSELF EITHER THWARTED OR EDUCATED THAT ANOTHER WAY EXISTS.

LOOK AT YOUR LOG LINES. ANY LOGLINE READING “BOB AND SUE DISCUSS…” IS NOT DESCRIBING A DRAMATIC SCENE.

PLEASE NOTE THAT OUR OUTLINES ARE, GENERALLY, SPECTACULAR. THE DRAMA FLOWS OUT BETWEEN THE OUTLINE AND THE FIRST DRAFT.

THINK LIKE A FILMMAKER RATHER THAN A FUNCTIONARY, BECAUSE, IN TRUTH, *YOU* ARE MAKING THE FILM. WHAT YOU WRITE, THEY WILL SHOOT.

HERE ARE THE DANGER SIGNALS. ANY TIME TWO CHARACTERS ARE TALKING ABOUT A THIRD, THE SCENE IS A CROCK OF SHIT.

ANY TIME ANY CHARACTER IS SAYING TO ANOTHER “AS YOU KNOW”, THAT IS, TELLING ANOTHER CHARACTER WHAT YOU, THE WRITER, NEED THE AUDIENCE TO KNOW, THE SCENE IS A CROCK OF SHIT.

DO *NOT* WRITE A CROCK OF SHIT. WRITE A RIPPING THREE, FOUR, SEVEN MINUTE SCENE WHICH MOVES THE STORY ALONG, AND YOU CAN, VERY SOON, BUY A HOUSE IN BEL AIR *AND* HIRE SOMEONE TO LIVE THERE FOR YOU.

REMEMBER YOU ARE WRITING FOR A VISUAL MEDIUM. *MOST* TELEVISION WRITING, OURS INCLUDED, SOUNDS LIKE *RADIO*. THE *CAMERA* CAN DO THE EXPLAINING FOR YOU. *LET* IT. WHAT ARE THE CHARACTERS *DOING* -*LITERALLY*.

WHAT ARE THEY HANDLING, WHAT ARE THEY READING. WHAT ARE THEY WATCHING ON TELEVISION, WHAT ARE THEY *SEEING*.

IF YOU PRETEND THE CHARACTERS CANT SPEAK, AND WRITE A SILENT MOVIE, YOU WILL BE WRITING GREAT DRAMA.

IF YOU DEPRIVE YOURSELF OF THE CRUTCH OF NARRATION, EXPOSITION,INDEED, OF *SPEECH*. YOU WILL BE FORGED TO WORK IN A NEW MEDIUM - TELLING THE STORY IN PICTURES (ALSO KNOWN AS SCREENWRITING)
THIS IS A NEW SKILL. NO ONE DOES IT NATURALLY. YOU CAN TRAIN YOURSELVES TO DO IT, BUT YOU NEED TO *START*.

I CLOSE WITH THE ONE THOUGHT: LOOK AT THE *SCENE* AND ASK YOURSELF “IS IT DRAMATIC? IS IT *ESSENTIAL*? DOES IT ADVANCE THE PLOT?

ANSWER TRUTHFULLY.

IF THE ANSWER IS “NO” WRITE IT AGAIN OR THROW IT OUT. IF YOU’VE GOT ANY QUESTIONS, CALL ME UP.

LOVE, DAVE MAMET
SANTA MONICA 19 OCTO 05

(IT IS *NOT* YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO KNOW THE ANSWERS, BUT IT IS YOUR, AND MY, RESPONSIBILITY TO KNOW AND TO *ASK THE RIGHT Questions* OVER AND OVER. UNTIL IT BECOMES SECOND NATURE. I BELIEVE THEY ARE LISTED ABOVE.)

Read more: A Letter from David Mamet to the Writers of The Unit | /Film http://www.slashfilm.com/2010/03/23/a-letter-from-david-mamet-to-the-writers-of-the-unit/#ixzz0j3Z7tDEg

http://www.slashfilm.com/2010/03/23/a-letter-from-david-mamet-to-the-writers-of-the-unit/

Monday, March 22, 2010

Michael Golden and Steve Scott to Debut new Sketchbooks at Planet ComiCon, March 27th/28th!



Kansas City-- Finally, the long-awaited and much anticipated, second in a series sketchbook, from artist/creator MICHAEL GOLDEN is NOW available! "Michael Golden: MORE Heroes &Villains," is in the house! And Planet ComiCon, being one of Michael's favorite shows, will be one of the first places where this book is offered!

Now for some bad news....somehow 420 of this already limited volume have disappeared somewhere between the printer in Hong Kong and our warehouse in New England--less than 600 available worldwide!

A follow up to the popular "Heroes & Villains," sketchbook of last year, this new volume is a must have for collectors of Golden's awesome storytelling and spot on illustration. Co-creator of Rogue from the X-Men, Bucky O'Hare, Spartan X, and illustrator on "Dr. Strange," "The 'Nam," "G.I. Joe," "Avengers," "Marvel Fanfare," and much, much more, none of Michael's art in this new book appears in any other art book or sketchbook on the market!

The volume itself is album sized, full color, and 48 pages in length, and features many of Golden's sketches from the 2009 season and some old favorites as well.

MORE good news for you fortunate few: If you do snag one of these books, it will be even more collectible. Be sure to get your order in now, or catch us at PlanetComiCon! Be One of the 600!

Comic artist STEVE SCOTT is debuting his new 32 page sketchbook as well, "Steve Scott Sketches," at PlanetComiCon to celebrate his first time appearing at the show! The book is limited to 1,000 copies, and comes in either signed editions or original sketch editions.

Steve's work can currently be seen on the upcoming "X-Men Forever" series with writer Chris Claremont. Not to mention that Steve is also the ONLY artist tapped by DC Comics to do any work relating to "Batman Forever," depicting the now legendary turn of Heath Ledger as The Joker. Look for Steve's work in the Blue-Ray disc release of the movie!

Steve is indeed certainly no stranger to media tie-in's. His work has also often been seen on the television show Smallville and in other special projects for DC Comics. As well as doing some darn good likenessess for the recent "Indiana Jones--Tomb of the Gods," comic book series for Dark Horse to tie-in with the recent Harrison Ford movie! In fact, George Lucas liked Steve's work so much that he purchased most of the originals to keep for himself!

Recently returned from a signing tour in Belgium, France and the Netherlands, and Spain look for more of Steve's work on "X-Men Forever," "Green Lantern," as well as some surprises to be announced soon!

Other guests joining Michael Golden and Steve Scott at PCC include: Lou Ferrigno, Mira Furlan, Helen Slater, Jane Wiedlin, Talent Caldwell, Tommy Castillo, Dave Dorman, Gary Friedrich, Phil Hester, Greg Horn, Joe Jusko, B. Clay Moore, Bill Morrison, Phil Noto, Ande Parks, Brian Pulido, Tone Rodriquez, Javier Saltares, Chris Sprouse, Cat Staggs, Rick Stasi, Arthur Suydam, Herb Trimpe, Ron Wagner, Renee Witterstaetter, and many more!

For more information on Michael Golden and Steve Scott and their work, contact: evaink@aol.com

For more information on PlanetComiCon taking place this next weekend, visit: http://www.planetcomicon.com/

But, be sure to pick up a copy of their new sketchbooks while supplies last!

Thursday, March 18, 2010

R.I.P Fess Parker


A few years ago I was fortunate enough to spend an evening with Fess, his wife and a group of friends for a small gathering at his winery in Los Olievos, invited by an actress friend of mine at the time.... To hear him sing folk songs and interact with friends while we had wine from his local vintage... it was such a magical night. Not to mention that he was such a grounded and nice person. All you could want from one of your childhood heroes. RIP, Mr. Parker. I will always remember you. Not only as Davey Crockett and Daniel Boone, but as a kind and sincere man.

--R.

PS--Below, a few words about the impact of this show, in case you didn't grow up during the frenzy. :-)

-----

A 50's Classic that created a craze., 6 May 2001
Author: Scott A. Tackett Sr. (sat46@corecomm.net)

The mid fifties television production of Walt Disney's "Davy Crockett" struck a nerve in the physic of American children. This three part TV mini-series launched the "Davy Crockett Craze", a phenomena that swept the Nation for some time.

Davy Crockett collecting cards, coonskin caps, toys, other assorted memorabilia, and the ever popular recording of the "Ballad of Davy Crockett", were only some of the outward signs of it's vast popularity. Actors, Fess Parker, as Davy Crockett, and Buddy Ebson as his sidekick, Georgie Russell became popular with almost most every child in America, practically over night. The show was so successful that the original three part series was clipped together and released to theaters as a full length movie. Then the Disney Studio produced a two part TV sequel the following year.

There is little doubt that by today's standards there was nothing special about it's plot, or dialog, or the acting, etc. Some critics might go as far to say it was rather silly, childish, and a mediocre production at best.

Perhaps that's all true, but it would miss the most important point. Seldom has any TV production cause so many young people to love a couple of screen characters so deeply, and with such spontaneous joy. In this regard it is a Classic and holds a special place in the history of television art.

A St. Patty's Day at the Polish Restaurant


As witnessed by myself on the streets of New York last night, some of you are indeed nursing hangovers today.

I only hope you can remember the fun you had...much of it I observed as I wondered why women who plan on drinking wear high-heel shoes and micro-minis? Do they say to themselves: "I'll only have one green beer. Honest." I can only assume that's the case, otherwise when sober, even the non-rocket scientist knows that stilettos, 10 pints, vodka chasers, and the uneven sidewalks of NYC, do NOT go together. Some of them had designated "carriers" though, so that's good. :-)

I avoided their fate (and date with the porcelain god) by choice this year, as I always do... Not that I wasn't drawn to the madness mind you, lured by the shoulder to shoulder drinking establishments with their titles in florid Gaelic script, and the strains of jovial violin infused music over the dull roar of patrons "in their cups." Seeing a few of the folks from "someplace outside the city" wearing plastic green derby's and the afore-mentioned scantily clad "Irish for a day" lasses, all so blotto that they couldn't stand upright--one splayed out on the sidewalk in the exact spot where I saw a dog piss yesterday...cured me of any minor urge to get involved. That and the bouncers at the bars were just so darn scary. :-/ Seeing a few fistfights breaking out of the walls of the dimly lit dives and onto the sidewalks as I strolled by, I understood why.

It was like something out of "The Quiet Man," without the charm.

Now, don't get me wrong...back in the old Marvel days, we had a bar that was our frequent clubhouse-- The Abbey Tavern-- Irish through and through, right down from the bartenders who gave us buy-backs every third beer, to the old fella with the lovely accent always greeting by the front door, to the neon Guinness signs in the window, to the mounted dead animal heads on the walls covered in layers of dust. I remember a boar... uhum... and a moose... Ah, yes, it was a glorious place! And the site of many a Marvel St. Patty's Day for at least 10 years that I can count. Still miss the ol' Abbey... I know alot of us do. It was the one place that all the Marvelites gathered at least once a week, and a place that bonded us all. And, the food was pretty darn good too!

Sadly it was sold some years back, and the new owners turned it into some stupid generic disco place kinda thing now, with bright lights and shiny counters or some such... which may, I think, already have gone out of business by now...I don't know why?? We ALWAYS need another of those!! (insert sarcasm here)

Now, you may think I'm being pessimistic about St. Patty's Day. Not so, really. And I certainly was jolted out of any momentary surliness when four random, immaculately dressed bagpipe playing/kilt wearing gents came strolling by last night, playing to their hearts content, and as proud to be Irish as they come!

I smiled.

And so started, a wave of warmth and hazy flashbacks coursing through my brain, leading to a little bit o'nostalgia for the day whence a kid, had me clawing through my closet for something green, so that mean kids in school like Doug Moody wouldn't pinch me! (No offense Doug. ;-) But you were mean.) And making shamrocks out of green pipe cleaners to give to my Mom.

So, here I was.... I wanted to do SOMETHING! It's March 17th! I am part Irish afterall. One of my family names is McBride, for gosh sake!

I know...the food! One can always find comfort and camaraderie in the food of any given holiday! So, I donned a green shirt, slipped on a light leather jacket, 501's and cowboy boots, and took to the streets of our diverse metropolis. Looking for someplace, any place, with Irish Fare.

I had no delusions that I'd find another Abbey Tavern. There was ONLY one of those. My rules thus were simple: We wanted a place that did not smell like vomit and where one could sit comfortably. But, after checking out all the usual suspects--Irish Pub 1, Irish Pub 2, Irish Pub 3-- they were all either out of food, so densely packed as to be shoe horn material, or the kitchens were closed!

Blimy!

But, never fear, I finally found my corn beef and cabbage! And in the oddest of places--the Polish joint on the corner, of course! I should have just come here to begin with! Polish! Irish! They both end in "ish."

Well...I've been to this establishment many a time, and should know by now to interpret the menu liberally. I had "lasagna" there once. Huh... yeah....So, as one would expect, it was not the best corn beef and cabbage ever concocted--the cuts were too thick, not spiced properly....albeit nothing a little hot sauce and pepper didn't cure. The Soda bread was awesome, and so dense I almost choked a few times. Overall, I was pleased. Mission accomplished.

BUT, the one thing I needed to top off the evening didn't appear--you guessed it: They were out of Guinness. Argh. The number ONE sign that this was NOT the "ish" place begining with "Ir."
Not by a long shot.

(One of my friends, Andy, made some Guinness Ice Cream one time... I still have to get that recipe. It's great. Really it is!)

Nevertheless....I had a good ol' Brooklyn Lager instead. And went home somewhat pleased, headache free, and without the need to have my friend carry me home. Even stopping--for some transcending moments--along the way to listen to a trio of actual Irish musicians, one on violin, playing a haunting Gaelic tune on an otherwise deserted street corner, the acoustics causing an echo off the buildings around us...reminding me that on this corner there once used to be one of my favorite vintage shops, now sadly gone as well, called... "Love Saves The Day."

While the Irish "for a day," carried on the other less serene traditions, down the street.

:-)

So, as a wrap up to the St. Patty's Day festivities, here is a little Top Ten List of Little known Facts that I found on the internet, and which I shall attribute appropriately to the original source, and share with you now...for when your head is up to reading them.

Oh... and I'm still open to some hearing more live Irish music if anyone has a lead! :-)

Enjoy!
Renee
:-)

__________

http://www.toptenz.net/10-interesting-facts-about-st-patricks-day.php

Ahh, St. Patrick’s Day: the day when each one of your friends and even your grandfather seems to be Irish. This is probably the only day when you’ll dig through your closet, just to find that special green something to wear wherever you go. St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated all over the world, and for many, it’s a day to relax and drink, whether it’s Guinness or just some random green beer served at the bar. Many think St. Patrick’s Day is just about wearing green, drinking, and dealing with the hangover the next day. However, there are probably some things that many don’t know about St. Patrick’s Day.

Below is a list of ten things that you may not have known about the special day celebrated on March 17 of each year. Some of these facts you’ll find surprising, while others are a little bit more expected, especially if you’ve participated in a St. Patrick’s Day festivity once in your live. And of course, Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

10. Shamrocks

Of course with St. Patrick’s Day comes the massive appearance of shamrocks. Whether you’re wearing one pinned to your lapel or you have them on your socks, shamrocks have definitely become a central symbol for this day. In the olden days in Ireland, the shamrock was seen as sacred. Due to its green color and overall shape, many believed it to represent rebirth and life. The four leaves of the clover represent faith, love, hope, and of course, luck. Because of this, the shamrock has continued to be very popular in the Irish culture. When the Irish were under control of the English, many silent protests were held, and each person would wear a shamrock pinned to their shirt. From then on the shamrock has became a very well-known symbol that represents Ireland and the Irish people.

9. Prohibition in Ireland…Really

When you think of March 17, you almost surely will think of beer, and when you think of someone Irish, you probably think of beer and pubs as well. But, in the history of Ireland, beer wasn’t always a given on this widely-celebrated day. in 1903, a member of the Irish parliament, James O’Mara introduced a new bill that called to recognize St. Patrick’s Day as a religious observation in Ireland. However, because this was made a law, this meant that all of the local pubs had to close; therefore, no beer was readily available. So for 67 years, the Irish suffered through a total shut down of all pubs until 1970 when the law was overturned and the holiday was no longer a religious observance, but a national holiday.

8. Only Three Countries Truly Care

While many countries all over the world celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, from the U.S. to Australia to Argentina and South Korea, only a very select few countries have actually made this day a public holiday for everyone. First, the very tiny island sometimes known as “Emerald Island of the Caribbean,” Montserrat, is one of three countries that publicly celebrate the holiday. This is due to the high number of Irish refugees that came from Nevis and St. Kitts to the island. So to commemorate them, the holiday is celebrated. The holiday is also considered to be a public one in Newfoundland and Labrador. Here the holiday is celebrated to remember a failed slave uprising that occurred in 1798. And of course, last but not least, Ireland has made March 17 a public holiday as well.

7. Yes, Hallmark Makes Some Money Too

We all know about Hallmark and their greetings that are perfect for some of the most prized holidays such as Christmas, Mother’s Day, and even Valentine’s Day. If you’ve ever given someone a card, or received a card yourself, you’ve probably opened one that was closed by Hallmark’s famous gold seal. Though it seems crazy, on St. Patrick’s Day, Hallmark usually sells anywhere from 8-15 million St. Patrick’s Day cards each year. But, offering these cards to the public isn’t anything new for Hallmark. According to their website, the company has been offering these green cards since the early 1920s, and there is always a wide selection to choose from, usually between 100-150 cards each year.

6. So does McDonalds

If you’ve ever taken a look at McDonald’s “dessert” menu, to put it lightly, you’ve surely seen the pies, ice cream, cookies, and probably even one of those fruit parfaits. You’ve probably also noticed the varying milkshakes that McDonald’s offers, especially during certain holidays and seasons. Usually around the end of February or beginning of March, McDonalds offers its Shamrock Shake. Of course the milkshake is nothing but a green color that tastes like mint. First served in 1970, the shake had become very popular in the U.S., Canada, and Ireland but today is mostly popular in the U.S. Prices of the shake have about doubled in the last decade, and new additions are often added. Recently, McDonalds has served the shakes with whipped cream topped with a cherry.

5. Evacuation Day

With every event that occurs, there’s usually some sort of coincidence to it, and St. Patrick’s Day is no exception. In a few counties in Massachusetts, the state with the largest amount Irish population (about one-fourth), there is a celebration of a day known as Evacuation Day. Mainly the day is celebrated in Somerville, Cambridge, and Suffolk County. While Boston is already well known for its celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, Evacuation Day is important as well. Coincidentally the holiday falls on March 17, but it does commemorate a very special event in Irish history. On March 17, 1876, the British forces left Boston after troops headed by Henry Knox and George Washington placed heavy artillery around the city. To celebrate this significant event, counties in Massachusetts made the day a holiday in 1901. However, the holiday is usually under heavy fire, as some see it as a waste of money, as workers are paid for a day off.

4. Snakes in an Ocean

We’ve all heard one Irish folklore story or another, especially those centered on St. Patrick. One very popular story is that St. Patrick was able to chase all of the snakes out of Ireland where they then drowned in the ocean. However, when it comes down to it, St. Patrick didn’t chase any snakes out of anywhere, nor can you take folklore literally. In all reality, there has never been any record of snakes living anywhere near the Emerald Isle. Instead, figurative language was often used in these folklores, and in this case, the serpents more than likely represented druid and pagan religions that slowly disappeared from Ireland over a period of centuries after St. Patrick is said to have placed the seeds of Christianity there.

3. New York Has More Irish Pride

With a holiday all about the Irish, you’d probably think that the biggest and most widely known celebrations come from nowhere else but Ireland. However, as history shows, Ireland isn’t the country that tops the list with Irish pride, at least not when it comes to celebration and festivities. After decades of studying, no one has found the exact time when St. Patrick’s Day was first widely celebrated. The first known depiction of the holiday comes from a man named Jonathan Swift, who mentions a 1713 celebration taking place in London. The only thing mentioned is a day where Westminster Parliament was given a holiday and that buildings were decorated in green. In 1762 in New York City, the first parade honoring this holiday took place. Today it stands as the largest celebration and parade in the U.S. Almost 3 million people come to see the parade, with contains over 150,000 people that span a mile and a half long.

2. Green or Blue?

Though green is a very popular color on St. Patrick’s Day, the original color that was very popular and often related back to St. Patrick was not green, but blue. However, in today’s world, if you’re without an ounce of green, expect a pinch! In Irish folklore, green is known as being worn by immortals and fairies, and often signified new life and crop growth. Some even say that wearing green is considered to be unlucky as it is known to represent a time in Irish history when Ireland was not a free country. Blue came into the picture long ago when the military men wore “St. Patrick’s Blue” in their uniforms. The blue is also represented during the time when Henry VIII was declared King of Ireland and the flag used was a gold harp on a blue background. But today, green is the prominently known and worn color. In Chicago, the Chicago River is dyed green using 40 pounds of green vegetable dye.

1. St. Patrick Wasn’t Irish

Because St. Patrick’s Day is so popular in Ireland, and all you really ever hear about on the date is Irish this Irish that, you probably just assume that St. Patrick is well…Irish. However, your assumption would be wrong. St. Patrick was actually Scottish and was said to be either born in Scotland or Wales. Even more shocking is that his name wasn’t even Patrick. His birth name is actually Maewyn Succat. However, at the age of 16, he was kidnapped and sold into Irish slavery. Later on in time he became a priest under bishop of Auxerre and took on the name Patricius, better known as Patrick. Here he felt that this was his calling to being Christianity and Ireland closer together. In any case, the Scottish should get some recognition on this day as well.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Hulk Say: Happy St. Patty's Day!

Oh, you know us New Yorkers Love the St. Patty's day!!

When I was a kid growing up in Texas, St. Patrick's day was sort of a dreaded event... especially if I was headed off to school, and forgot to wear green. The pinching policy was indeed in full force. That was really the main thing we did on the day.

When I moved to NYC, I was sort of amazed to find that the pinching policy was not something practiced everywhere. And having grown up in a "dry" county, drinking certainly wasn't part of the festivities either. Not so in NYC.

It must be the biggest single day for the green food dye industry as everything from the Boston waters to the NYC beer becomes a lovely shade of green. And cornbeef and cabbage is a must.

Oh, and the parade! I can hear it even as I type, taking place outside my windows. Nobody loves a parade like the NYC Irish.

Above: Here's something big and green in honor of the event! And in honor of my partial Irish heritage: Have a good day everybody, and good luck to us all!


--Renee
:-)

And now for a little bit o' history:

History of St. Patrick's Day:

According to legend, Saint Patrick used the shamrock, a three-leaved plant, to explain the Holy Trinity to the pre-Christian Irish people.

It is believed that Saint Patrick's Day has been celebrated in Ireland since before the 1600s. It was also believed to have served as a one-day break during Lent[citation needed], the forty day period of fasting. This would involve drinking alcohol; something which became a tradition. Saint Patrick's feast day was finally placed on the universal liturgical calendar in the Catholic Church due to the influence of the Waterford-born Franciscan scholar Luke Wadding in the early 1600s. Saint Patrick's Day thus became a holy day of obligation for Roman Catholics in Ireland. The church calendar avoids the observance of saints' feasts during certain solemnities, moving the saint's day to a time outside those periods. Saint Patrick's Day is very occasionally affected by this requirement – when 17 March falls during Holy Week. This happened in 1940 when Saint Patrick's Day was observed on 3 April in order to avoid it coinciding with Palm Sunday, and again in 2008, having been observed on 15 March. Saint Patrick's Day will not fall within Holy Week again until 2160.

In 1903, Saint Patrick's Day became an official public holiday in Ireland. This was thanks to the Bank Holiday (Ireland) Act 1903, an Act of the United Kingdom Parliament introduced by the Irish MP James O'Mara. O'Mara later introduced the law which required that pubs be closed on 17 March after drinking got out of hand, a provision which was repealed only in the 1970s. The first Saint Patrick's Day parade held in the Irish Free State was held in Dublin in 1931 and was reviewed by the then Minister of Defense Desmond Fitzgerald. Although secular celebrations now exist, the holiday remains a religious observance in Ireland, for both the Roman Catholic Church and Church of Ireland.

Traditional Saint Patrick's Day badges from the early 20th century, photographed at the Museum of Country Life in County Mayo

It was only in the mid-1990s that the Irish government began a campaign to use Saint Patrick's Day to showcase Ireland and its culture. The government set up a group called St. Patrick's Festival, with the aim to:

— Offer a national festival that ranks amongst all of the greatest celebrations in the world and promote excitement throughout Ireland via innovation, creativity, grassroots involvement, and marketing activity.

— Provide the opportunity and motivation for people of Irish descent, (and those who sometimes wish they were Irish) to attend and join in the imaginative and expressive celebrations.

— Project, internationally, an accurate image of Ireland as a creative, professional and sophisticated country with wide appeal, as we approach the new millennium.

The first Saint Patrick's Festival was held on 17 March 1996. In 1997, it became a three-day event, and by 2000 it was a four-day event. By 2006, the festival was five days long; over 675,000 people attended the 2009 parade. Overall 2009's five day festival saw close to one million visitors that took part in the festivities that included concerts, outdoor theatre performances, and fireworks.

The topic of the 2004 St. Patrick's Symposium was "Talking Irish," during which the nature of Irish identity, economic success, and the future were discussed. Since 1996, there has been a greater emphasis on celebrating and projecting a fluid and inclusive notion of "Irishness" rather than an identity based around traditional religious or ethnic allegiance. The week around Saint Patrick's Day usually involves Irish language speakers using more Irish during seachtain na Gaeilge ("Irish Week").

As well as Dublin, many other Irish cities, towns and villages hold their own parades and festivals, including Cork, Belfast, Derry, Galway, Kilkenny, Limerick, and Waterford.
The biggest celebrations outside Dublin are in Downpatrick, County Down, where Saint Patrick is rumoured to be buried following his death on 17 March 461. In 2004, according to Down District Council, the week-long St. Patrick's Festival had over 2,000 participants and 82 floats, bands, and performers, and was watched by over 30,000 people.

The shortest St Patrick's Day parade in the world takes place in Dripsey, Cork. The parade lasts just 100 yards and travels between the village's two pubs.

_____
So, that's it, my friends. The luck o' the Irish be with us, and four leaf clovers to everyone! :-)

Marvel Bullpen Circa 1992!

My friend, and talented artist, Rick Parker, recently put this on his Facebook page, and boy did it bring back the memories of the old Marvel days and the great folks at the company at that time. Here, presented again for nostalgia purposes, a look back ala Rick Parker.

Ric drew this in '92 of co-workers at Marvel at 387 Park Avenue South after they redesigned the offices and moved people around. The multi-talented Eliot R. Brown drew the building.

In this drawing: Josh Myers, Ralph Macchio, David Wohl , John Romita, Sr., Tom DeFalco, Bob Harras, Mark Gruenwald, Pat Garrahy, Bob Budiansky, Lisa Patrick, Stan "The Man" Lee, Renee Witterstaetter, Terry Stewart, John N. Mailroom, Eliot R. Brown, Mike Z. Hobson, Hildy Mesnik, Steve Saffel , Don Hudson, Tom Breevort, Kevin Kobasic , Evan Skolnick , Whitey, Mort Todd and Michael Delefemine, Richard Ashford, Joey Cavalieri, Lisa Trusiani , Mike Rockwitz , Glenn Herdling , Paul Becton, Marie Javins , Ed Murr, Don Daley, Tim Touhy, Dawn Geiger, Marcus McLaurin , Steve Bunche , Darren Auck, Danny Fingeroth , Mike Lackey , Rob Tokar , Dan Cuddy, Chris Cooper, Nel Yomtov, Fabian Nicieza , Tom Daning , Rick Parker, Jack Abel, Hector Collazo, and Mark Powers

Have fun trying to find us all. LOL

--Renee
:-)

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Silly Things That Make Me Smile...




On a recent foray into Central Park this past summer. We were surprised with this beautiful double rainbow, after a light rain. What a beautiful thing to see...and my first! I treasure days like this, spent in good, easy, company, at one of our favorite spots in the world...the things that matter....little things.



And now....A Little Rainbow Connection for Everyone, ala Kermit THE Frog. This always puts a smile on my face....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSFLZ-MzIhM


RAINBOW CONNECTION
Kermit the Frog

Why are there so many songs about rainbows
And what's on the other side
Rainbow's are visions
They're only illusions
And rainbows have nothing to hide
So we've been told and some chose to
Believe it
But I know they're wrong wait and see

Someday we'll find it
The Rainbow Connection
The lovers, the dreamers and me

Who said that every wish
Would be heard and answered
When wished on the morning star
Somebody thought of that
And someone believed it
And look what it's done so far
What's so amazing
That keeps us star gazing
What so we think we might see

Someday we'll find it
That Rainbow Connection
The lovers the dreamers and me

Have you been half asleep
And have you heard voices
I've heard them calling my name
Are these the sweet sounds that called
The young sailors
I think they're one and the same
I've heard it too many times to ignore it
There's something that I'm supposed to be

Someday we'll find it
The Rainbow Connection
The lovers, the dreamers and me

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

New Michael Golden Sketchbook NOW Available!



New York-- Finally, the long-awaited and much anticipated, second in a series sketchbook, from artist/creator Michael Golden is NOW available! "Michael Golden: MORE Heroes &Villains," is in the house!

Now for some bad news....somehow 420 of this already limited volume have disappeared somewhere between the printer in Hong Kong and our warehouse in Connecticut, making this volume sadly even MORE rare. We may try to get them reprinted, but who knows if that's gonna happen. Good news is that we do have SOME!

A follow up to the popular "Heroes & Villains," sketchbook of last year, this new volume is a must have for collectors of Golden's awesome storytelling and spot on illustration. Co-creator of Rogue from the X-Men, Bucky O'Hare, Spartan X, and illustrator on "Dr. Strange," "The 'Nam," "G.I. Joe," "Avengers," "Marvel Fanfare," and much, much more, none of Michael's art in this new book appears in any other art book or sketchbook on the market!

MORE good news for you fortunate few: The printer-broker's non-delivery of product means that if you do snag one of these books, it will be even more collectible. So, with only 580 books to go around (160 already gone to Diamond), be sure to get your order in now, or catch us at a show within the first part of the year.

The cover price of the book is $40. signed; $150 for the sketch edition. The volume itself is album sized, full color, and 48 pages in length, and features many of Golden's sketches from the 2009 season and some old favorites as well. Get your own copy of "MORE Heroes & Villains," while supplies last!

--------

For more information, contact: evaink@aol.com

Friday, March 5, 2010

Emerald City Con's "Monsters & Dames," is "Golden" from Cover to Cover!


Seattle-- Well, not really...but one page does feature a fantastic monster piece by artist Michael Golden, while the other pages are illustrated by some of the other greatest names in the sequential arts business, including painter supreme, Mark Texeira.

This year, the annual charity art book "Monsters and Dames," measures 9x12, 48 pages, full color, hardcover, and limited to only 850 copies, individually numbered copies and features contributions from guests appearing at the 2010 show. This great book is available at the ECCC show booth, #604.

Part of the proceeds from "Monsters and Dames," benefits the Seattle Children's Hospital, a premier child health care and pediatric center and recognized as one of the leading US hospitals for children. What a great idea to buy on of these volumes and get it signed by all the creators involved!

In addition, Michael Golden will be in Artists Alley both days of the show to debut his own new sketchbook, "Michael Golden: MORE Heroes and Villains," limited to 580 copies!

While Mark Texeira and Renee Witterstaetter will be signing the new book from Vanguard Productions, "Tex: The Art of Mark Texeira." Renee is the writer as well as the designer of this great new edition, available in hardcover, softcover and deluxe editions.

Other folks joining Golden, Texeira and Witterstaetter at the Emerald City Comic Con include: Leonard Nimoy, Stan Lee, Thomas Jane, Whil Wheaton, Lou Ferrigno, Matt Allred, Brian Michael Bendis, Tim Bradstreet, Kurt Busiek, Matt Fraction. Francesco Francavilla, Barry Kitson, David Mack, Kevin Maguire, Alex Maleev, Ron Marz, Terry Moore, Chris Moreno, Mike Oeming, Jason Pearson, Whilce Portacio, Joe Quesada, Rick Remember, Tone Rodriguez, Tim Sale, Stuart Sayger, Taki Soma, Richard Starkings, Philip Tan, Jill Thompson, Jim Valentino, Mark Waid, Len Wein, Dan Wickline, J.H. Williams III, and many more!

________
The ECCC will be held March 13th and 14th at the Washington State Convention Center in Seattle. Go to: www.emeraldcitycomicon.com for more details.

For information on Michael Golden and Mark Texeira, contact: evaink@aol.com

Monday, March 1, 2010

"Zombieland" -- A Review




Every now and then I'm compelled to write reviews of movies I like. More often than not, it's the ones that I hate that get my ire up to actually do it. "Zombieland" pissed me off in just such a way.

The movie started with great promise from the beginning scene, by having the main character (Columbus) admit that living in a zombie laden world with the undead constantly trying to attack him, wasn't really all that different than his geeky life he had before the societal collapse of the United States. All the while calmly explaining in voice-over as he's chased around a deserted gas station lot by said undead.

The flashbacks of the awkward teenager finally meeting the hot girl next door and the high-jinks that ensue are hilarious as well as character defining, as are his lists of various phobias he had even before the world became insane.

Joining him on the road to find a safe haven somewhere in this crazy landscape, Columbus is picked up by a red-neck, Hostess loving, zombie killing enthusiast played by Woody Harrelson, in a part that fits like a glove. The banter between the two opposites and the potential for the story were fantastic. And you can't help but hope that the director is going to run with the chemistry. But then... the momentum is shattered by the odd insertion of two grifter sisters, played by Emma Stone and Abigail Breslin...

The first half of "Zombieland" had me really wanting to like this flick. And there was much to like: Having the characters use nicknames for each other was a wonderful tool to show the reluctance of the players to trust; The flashbacks were well-directed and staged and added at pivotal points to move the plot along; Columbus's list of rules to stay alive which included things like--Keep your Cardio up, Limber up, Double tap your zombies (i.e. shoot 'em twice), Never be a Hero, Always wear your Seat belt, Avoid Bathrooms, etc. flashed across the screen in appropriate places and were a nice touch. (Sadly there were supposedly 30 something rules which we never hear, and the device was abandoned somewhere around the 3rd act, for far too long, losing the consistent thread.)

I also enjoyed the plot reason for the zombie infestation-- tainted meat at fast food stands that morphed from causing mad cow disease to actually causing a disease that turned people mad....into fast-moving, ravenous zombies in other words.

Other well done story spikes were the slow reveal of why Tallahassee was the way he was, and the revelation of his softer side, as well as the initial clever but ultimately underused appearance of Bill Murray playing himself.

In short, the first two acts of this movie were a great deal of fun. And I was ready to be fully invested in "Zombieland."

Now we get to the third act.

If you liked "Shaun of the Dead," which has the potential to become a classic. "Zombieland," is NOT that. The main reason is the lack of consistency and the stupid plot devices that jar you out of the story, and keep you from getting involved in the fantasy 100%.

Note; If you plan on seeing it and haven't, don't read further.

Here's what I hated about the movie, and much like Columbus's rules, I'll number them, simply because there are so many and I certainly don't want to leave anything out:

1.) The movie gets sloppy after the intro of the girls. i.e. why if you have a baseball bat are you going to throw it away in the grocery store, not knowing if there are more Zombies about.... not to mention that someone of Tallahassee's mind set is not just going to give his gun to someone under any circumstances. Nor fall for a stalled truck in the road routine. These would be the actions of a stupid character, but it had already been established that Tallahassee is anything but that.

2.) Seemed like the forgiveness happened pretty quick between the two factions. I don't think I'd trust or forgive someone who stole my truck, guns and gear, not once, but TWICE.

3.) Wouldn't you be stockpiling food as well as weapons if in this actual situation? Logic does not come into play.

4.) Considering the zombie menace, wouldn't you go to the LEAST populated place you can think of, instead of LA for gosh sake?

5.) I understand what they were trying to do with the "young guy gets the girl thing, and the older guy finds a new child to mentor," but didn't buy it.

6.) The Bill Murray segment went on WAY too long. Had good potential to be funny. But WHY do that to Bill in the end, making one of the characters an actual murderer, who by the way, showed very little remorse.

7.) Any idiot, knows not to pretend to be a zombie and scare someone with a shotgun, who is already prone to shoot zombies. That would be my rule #1.

8.) An amusement park? Really? I saw a Spanish movie a few years ago at a festival in San Sebastian, that did this much, much better. Zombie chasing kids around a park. Kids kill zombie creatively after much running and scary high-jinks. I'll try to remember the name.... my point being, it would have been nice to have something original.

9.) The theme park venue itself brings up many questions: Who was turning on and stopping all of those rides! They don't work on their own you know.

10.) Yeah, ditch your Hummer full of guns to get a few zombies off your roof. Couldn't you just stop real quick. Fling 'em off your roof? When the Hummer ends up in the lake and the girls decide to hoof it instead. I was 100% out of this story.

11.) Only to be followed by more ridiculousness: Yeah, get on the ride that is going to drop like a stone right into chomping view, onto the horde of zombies trying to eat you. And again! Who is operating the ride!!!

Oh...and my final complaint:

12.) If I were traveling alone with my kid sister, and found 2 guys with guns, one of whom was a crack shot and hell-bent on killing zombies, I would not be in SUCH a hurry to ditch 'em, if my true goal were survival.


I could go on. The movie got soooo fractured towards the end, that the minor enjoyment I had at the beginning of this flick evaporated like cheap perfume.

All that being said, I loved Harrelson in his part. He made the movie. The reverse shooting gallery scene at the amusement park is a nice touch. And Harrelson is a joy to watch whenever he's on screen. He infused his character with wit and wisdom that oozed through the tough shell from his first appearance on screen.

It's a shame too. "Zombieland," is an example of a good idea that somehow went awry. I suspect that it started out as a personal project, then too many cooks converged on the kitchen, with too many diverse ingredients, which often happens in formula film making.

The only other thing I can think to explain the derailment is perhaps that I missed the film makers clever and cutting point entirely....

If indeed the third act was meant to be a parody of living in LA and making films in the LA system, and showing how a good project can go to shit when the vision is lost...

Then, in fact, perhaps the point they were trying to make is that LA already IS "Zombieland."

Satire at it's best? Could it be?

Perhaps I am wrong then, because if so... then this movie is actually brilliant instead of mediocre. :-) As it drives that point home like a stake to the heart.