Yes, it's another bit of self promotion as I continue to get the word out about Action Figure; From the Journals of Richard Marzelak.
Today's review is from the comic reading Blog, 2 Guys Buying Comics:
Chris Reviews: Action Figure #1
posted by Chris @ 9:50 PM
I'm a little late to this party (I'm a little late to most parties), but Richard Marcej was nice enough to send along a copy of his new comic, so I'd damn well better review it! (My words, not his.)
Marcej has worked as an illustrator and designer for Hasbro (you know, that little mom-n'-pop company what makes the robot trucks and army dolls) and Hallmark (the scrappy little living-on-the margins purveyor of sentiment, hackneyed and otherwise).
Action Figure: From the Journals of Richard Marzelak #1 (quite the title, that) is a behind-the-scenes look at Richard's life in the aforementioned industry.
Richard posits a future where a couple at an estate sale uncover the journals of a man named Richard Marzelak. What follows is an under-the-curtain look at the office politics, personalities, camaraderie, and goals of someone who's dreaming of bigger and better things.
So, is it any good?
Yep. It is.
As a #1 issue, it sets up nicely the environment and people Richard deals with on a daily basis, from the frustration of office realpolitik (oh yeah, I went there) to the struggle to balance personal goals with the demands of holding down a job.
There's a sequence near the end of the issue that was particularly striking, where an exhausted Marzelak, knowing he has to get some sleep for a big job meeting tomorrow, can't pull himself away from his own pet project and has to ink "just one more page". Been there, buddy.
It's black-and-white with splashes of red, which I rather liked as well. The drawing, as you might expect from a professional illustrator, is outstanding. Also, the cover is damn near genius, and the whole thing's made with high-quality paper inside and outside, so you're getting some really good production for an indie comic. Additionally, it's a dense read, so you get a sizable chunk of story for your $3.50.
There are a few things I didn't care for --- the framing device, with journals and flashbacks and such, seems unnecessary, and it wasn't quite as funny as I was expecting. But these are minor compared to the overall quality, I think.
The fact is that this is a slice-of-life comic about a guy working in industries rife with potential for juicy stories, events, and personalities, and to me the parts that hit home are where he toils in the office half-dedicated to his job, half-trying to figure out how he can turn his talents to something he loves doing.
Sound familiar? Me too.
If that sounds interesting to you, Action Figure #1 is a good buy. Preview it here!
Good comic, Richard!
And as always, for those interested, you can see preview pages click here
and buy it click here.
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
I saw the movie Flags of Our Fathers last week.
There are are few things in the cinema that you can rely on.
• An Adam Sandler film will never be funny
• A Pixar film will be worth seeing (well, that was true until Cars)
• Clint Eastwood makes damn good movies.
What a career this guy's had. From TV, to Speghetti Westerns. From Dirty Harry to co-starring with an orangatan and now to his latest and perhaps greatest part of his career, directing.
Unforgiven
Mystic River
Million Dollar Baby
All excellent films that tell hard, harsh stories and doesn't hold anything back. And the performances?
Gene Hackman, Oscar Winner for Unforgiven.
Tim Robbins, Oscar Winner for Mystic River
Hillary Swank, Oscar Winner for Million Dollar Baby
Morgan Freeman, Oscar Winner for Million Dollar Baby
How the hell can Clint top that?
Flags of Our Fathers is one of those historical films that fascinate me. It covers a story that you think you may know, or just have a vague recolection of, but don't really know the real background about.
The film tells this story (through a use of jarring flashbacks to the field of battle) and centers on the three soldiers who were (or as we find out, weren't) involved in the famous flag raising and survived the bloody battle of Iwo Jima. The three men, Navy corpsman "Doc" Bradley (Ryan Phillippe), and the two Marines Rene Gagnon (Jesse Bradford) and Native American Ira Hayes (Adam Beach) are whisked back to the states to headline a grueling US Bonds tour throughout the country. America's hurting, not only on the battle front but in the pocketbook, as the war is bleeding the country dry, and the sales of Government Bonds are desperately needed.
With the exception of Gagnon who's enjoying the spotlight, the men are haunted by memories of the bloody battle on Iwo Jima and wracked with guilt that they not only made it home alive but are now home accepting accolades as heroes. Hayes especially takes it hard, so much so that he eventually ships back to the war.
Eastwood does an excellent job, ripping away the accepted public knowledge of events and showing the raw reality of what transpired (much like what he did with the western in Unforgiven). The battle scenes alone are gritty and chaotic with bullets and limbs flying everywhere as the young warriors storm the beach. But wait a minute, haven't we seen this before? Yes. And that's the main problem with the film.
It's not surprising to see that one of the producers of Flags of Our Fathers is Steven Spielberg. Spielberg's excellent Saving Private Ryan gave us the filmed battle scene that every future War movie will always be compared to. So we, as the jaded movie viewer, have experienced the incredibly tense grim (computer aided) filmed battle and seeing it again, no matter how well done, can be dismissed as a "been there, done that".
Along with the visual aspects, the story of the demythologizing of a famous historical event and image and that our war heroes aren't as pristine and noble as we'd like to think isn't anything new. Yes we've seen this before.
But that doesn't make this a bad movie (though it may sound as if I'm saying that). As I watched Flags of Our Fathers my thoughts of current events couldn't help but fill my mind. Yes, it's a different time, different enemy and a different place, but in many ways it's the same. It's a group of dedicated young men, with their whole future ahead of them, forced with the burden of laying down their life for a cause and leaders that they can't afford to question, but can only listen to and obey. That yes folks, war is hell. It's process is not clean and concise and our "heroes" aren't all noble symbols of a photograph. They're human, filled with foibles just like us. But if not for their sacrifice, we couldn't live the way we do.
I give Flags of Our Fathers a flag raising:
• An Adam Sandler film will never be funny
• A Pixar film will be worth seeing (well, that was true until Cars)
• Clint Eastwood makes damn good movies.
What a career this guy's had. From TV, to Speghetti Westerns. From Dirty Harry to co-starring with an orangatan and now to his latest and perhaps greatest part of his career, directing.
Unforgiven
Mystic River
Million Dollar Baby
All excellent films that tell hard, harsh stories and doesn't hold anything back. And the performances?
Gene Hackman, Oscar Winner for Unforgiven.
Tim Robbins, Oscar Winner for Mystic River
Hillary Swank, Oscar Winner for Million Dollar Baby
Morgan Freeman, Oscar Winner for Million Dollar Baby
How the hell can Clint top that?
Flags of Our Fathers is one of those historical films that fascinate me. It covers a story that you think you may know, or just have a vague recolection of, but don't really know the real background about.
The film tells this story (through a use of jarring flashbacks to the field of battle) and centers on the three soldiers who were (or as we find out, weren't) involved in the famous flag raising and survived the bloody battle of Iwo Jima. The three men, Navy corpsman "Doc" Bradley (Ryan Phillippe), and the two Marines Rene Gagnon (Jesse Bradford) and Native American Ira Hayes (Adam Beach) are whisked back to the states to headline a grueling US Bonds tour throughout the country. America's hurting, not only on the battle front but in the pocketbook, as the war is bleeding the country dry, and the sales of Government Bonds are desperately needed.
With the exception of Gagnon who's enjoying the spotlight, the men are haunted by memories of the bloody battle on Iwo Jima and wracked with guilt that they not only made it home alive but are now home accepting accolades as heroes. Hayes especially takes it hard, so much so that he eventually ships back to the war.
Eastwood does an excellent job, ripping away the accepted public knowledge of events and showing the raw reality of what transpired (much like what he did with the western in Unforgiven). The battle scenes alone are gritty and chaotic with bullets and limbs flying everywhere as the young warriors storm the beach. But wait a minute, haven't we seen this before? Yes. And that's the main problem with the film.
It's not surprising to see that one of the producers of Flags of Our Fathers is Steven Spielberg. Spielberg's excellent Saving Private Ryan gave us the filmed battle scene that every future War movie will always be compared to. So we, as the jaded movie viewer, have experienced the incredibly tense grim (computer aided) filmed battle and seeing it again, no matter how well done, can be dismissed as a "been there, done that".
Along with the visual aspects, the story of the demythologizing of a famous historical event and image and that our war heroes aren't as pristine and noble as we'd like to think isn't anything new. Yes we've seen this before.
But that doesn't make this a bad movie (though it may sound as if I'm saying that). As I watched Flags of Our Fathers my thoughts of current events couldn't help but fill my mind. Yes, it's a different time, different enemy and a different place, but in many ways it's the same. It's a group of dedicated young men, with their whole future ahead of them, forced with the burden of laying down their life for a cause and leaders that they can't afford to question, but can only listen to and obey. That yes folks, war is hell. It's process is not clean and concise and our "heroes" aren't all noble symbols of a photograph. They're human, filled with foibles just like us. But if not for their sacrifice, we couldn't live the way we do.
I give Flags of Our Fathers a flag raising:
Monday, November 13, 2006
New Single Panel comics every day!
While digging through some old portfolios this weekend (looking for something else - that I didn't find) I came across a bunch of one panel gag comics I did a few years ago and never did anything with. Most of them are "groan-worthy", but while the gag may not be great I think a lot of the drawings still hold up. So starting today, I'll run one a day (until I run out).
Or the public demands that I stop!
Or the public demands that I stop!
Yes, another Action Figure #1 Review!
Yes, here's another bit of self promotion as I continue to get the word out about Action Figure; From the Journals of Richard Marzelak.
Today's review is from a long running Comic related Blog, The Johnny Bacardi Show:
ACTION FIGURE: FROM THE JOURNALS OF RICHARD MARZELAK 1
S/A: Richard Marcej. (Baboon Books, $3.50)
Office Space-esque hijinks, somewhat autobigraphical, as Richard Marcej the writer/artist gives us "Richard Marzelak" the character, who labors, unappreciated and unhappy, at a large toy company as a concept artist and is given to occasional red-tinged daydream sequences as he yearns to get out of his predicament and become a full-time cartoonist. As an artist, Marzelak is a nice conceptualist- his figure drawings are stiff, awkward and often crude, but he's able to tell a story and cram it full of dialogue and never make it seem cluttered, and there are many other, far more facile and accomplished illustrators that haven't mastered that trick yet. Said dialogue, while rarely witty or clever in itself, is still natural-sounding and sometimes amusing...you can't help but sympathize with "Richard", especially if one has ever felt underappreciated and overlooked at one's job, particularly one that would seem to be a dream job for many. If you're curious, you can go visit Richard the creator's website, where he has many other publications for you to sample. B+
And as always, you can see preview pages click here
and buy it click here.
Today's review is from a long running Comic related Blog, The Johnny Bacardi Show:
ACTION FIGURE: FROM THE JOURNALS OF RICHARD MARZELAK 1
S/A: Richard Marcej. (Baboon Books, $3.50)
Office Space-esque hijinks, somewhat autobigraphical, as Richard Marcej the writer/artist gives us "Richard Marzelak" the character, who labors, unappreciated and unhappy, at a large toy company as a concept artist and is given to occasional red-tinged daydream sequences as he yearns to get out of his predicament and become a full-time cartoonist. As an artist, Marzelak is a nice conceptualist- his figure drawings are stiff, awkward and often crude, but he's able to tell a story and cram it full of dialogue and never make it seem cluttered, and there are many other, far more facile and accomplished illustrators that haven't mastered that trick yet. Said dialogue, while rarely witty or clever in itself, is still natural-sounding and sometimes amusing...you can't help but sympathize with "Richard", especially if one has ever felt underappreciated and overlooked at one's job, particularly one that would seem to be a dream job for many. If you're curious, you can go visit Richard the creator's website, where he has many other publications for you to sample. B+
And as always, you can see preview pages click here
and buy it click here.
Sunday, November 12, 2006
I saw the movie Stranger Than Fiction yesterday.
I love films that take a chance. Movies that have an intriguing "I wonder how the hell they're going to pull that off" type of story. That's how I felt about Stranger Than Fiction after seeing it's trailer months ago.
A simple, mundane man, Harold Crick, going through his usual daily rituals one day hears a voice. It's not just any voice though, it's a narrator describing his life- as he lives it. He, of course, is taken aback by this!
I mean, how can you not be interested to see where this story goes? A great hook and I'm sold.
-BUT-
There's a danger in this. For every Groundhog Day, Adaptation and The Truman Show, films that had a cool, odd premise that work, there are dozens more that fall flat on their face.
So at your local cineplex, where the screens are filled with big budget cookie-cutter stories with bland characters, you go see a film like this hoping that it comes close to delivering something new.
And does it?
As the trailer featured, Harold Crick Will Ferrell) not only hears a narrators voice telling of his life, she also tells of his upcoming death. That's what sets Harold off! He seeks help, first among coworkers (he's an I.R.S. Auditor) than a doctor and finally a literature professor (Dustin Hoffman). While no one can tell him why he's (supposedly) hearing a voice, the professor does point out to Harold that he should see what type of story this narrator is telling. In short, is Harold's life a tragedy or a comedy?
Throughout the film we do see the narrator (Emma Thompson) hard at work on her typewriter. She's a highly regarded novelist who's known for killing off the main characters in all her books. Despite her writers' block and despite (the real life) Harold's protests, it looks as if he'll be added to the dead character list.
Before I forget too, I have to mention the graphics. Aiding director Marc Foster (Monsters Ball and Finding Neverland) is the use of onscreen computer-like graphics that point out every mundane aspect of Harold's daily life. These are an excellent addition that don't get in the way and enhance the story telling.
To tell more about the story though, would be to give too much away and this is the type of film that you DON'T want to know how it ends. The fun in watching a film like Stranger Than Fiction is to wonder along the way if the film makers will make it work?
As for the ending, on the surface I wasn't sure, at first, but thinking about it as I left the theatre, it worked for me.
The performances by everyone, Hoffman, Thompson, Gyllenhaal (who plays a radical baker) and Ferrell are all well done. I've never been a Ferrell fan, though as an exSNL'er he's surely not the worst (that position is held by the agonizingly bad Adam Sandler) here, he underplays Harold. He gives him a kind of dullness that is content to go through life without highs or lows. Even when he gets excited, he's not excited.
And that ordinariness is what helps propell this very unordinary story.
I give Stranger Than Fiction a timeless (wristwatch, that is):
A simple, mundane man, Harold Crick, going through his usual daily rituals one day hears a voice. It's not just any voice though, it's a narrator describing his life- as he lives it. He, of course, is taken aback by this!
I mean, how can you not be interested to see where this story goes? A great hook and I'm sold.
-BUT-
There's a danger in this. For every Groundhog Day, Adaptation and The Truman Show, films that had a cool, odd premise that work, there are dozens more that fall flat on their face.
So at your local cineplex, where the screens are filled with big budget cookie-cutter stories with bland characters, you go see a film like this hoping that it comes close to delivering something new.
And does it?
As the trailer featured, Harold Crick Will Ferrell) not only hears a narrators voice telling of his life, she also tells of his upcoming death. That's what sets Harold off! He seeks help, first among coworkers (he's an I.R.S. Auditor) than a doctor and finally a literature professor (Dustin Hoffman). While no one can tell him why he's (supposedly) hearing a voice, the professor does point out to Harold that he should see what type of story this narrator is telling. In short, is Harold's life a tragedy or a comedy?
Throughout the film we do see the narrator (Emma Thompson) hard at work on her typewriter. She's a highly regarded novelist who's known for killing off the main characters in all her books. Despite her writers' block and despite (the real life) Harold's protests, it looks as if he'll be added to the dead character list.
Before I forget too, I have to mention the graphics. Aiding director Marc Foster (Monsters Ball and Finding Neverland) is the use of onscreen computer-like graphics that point out every mundane aspect of Harold's daily life. These are an excellent addition that don't get in the way and enhance the story telling.
To tell more about the story though, would be to give too much away and this is the type of film that you DON'T want to know how it ends. The fun in watching a film like Stranger Than Fiction is to wonder along the way if the film makers will make it work?
As for the ending, on the surface I wasn't sure, at first, but thinking about it as I left the theatre, it worked for me.
The performances by everyone, Hoffman, Thompson, Gyllenhaal (who plays a radical baker) and Ferrell are all well done. I've never been a Ferrell fan, though as an exSNL'er he's surely not the worst (that position is held by the agonizingly bad Adam Sandler) here, he underplays Harold. He gives him a kind of dullness that is content to go through life without highs or lows. Even when he gets excited, he's not excited.
And that ordinariness is what helps propell this very unordinary story.
I give Stranger Than Fiction a timeless (wristwatch, that is):
Friday, November 10, 2006
Comments & Theories over the trailer for Spider-Man 3
OK, by now I'm sure everyone has had a chance to see the new trailer for Spider-Man 3, right? Whether on TV last night or on the net. And the overwhelming consensus is, it of course looks great, but what about the story?
Well, right off we're told that the unnamed robber (who after seeing Spidey plunges to his death) isn't responsible for Uncle Ben's death.
Huh? The most powerful message from over 40 years of Spider-Man history is that he
LET escape the man who eventually killed his Uncle. That despite all his new powers he couldn't save Ben, that (wait for it) "With great power comes great responsibility".
But if what we're told in the trailer is true, Flint Marko (The Sandman) kills Ben to steal his car but when the bank robber (that Peter let go) flees the arena, steals the car and Marko hides in the trunk? That Marko is the man who killed Ben? So how is it now Pete's fault? Is Rami trying to say that BECAUSE Ben was waiting to pick up Pete at the library (where he wasn’t at) that Pete still has a reason to feel guilty over Ben’s death? Pretty lame reason to me.
If Rami wanted revenge as the origin of Venom and the basis of the film then why not say that Marko is responsible for the death of his parents? Sure, the death of Pete's parents had never been that important in the comics because Pete grew up with Aunt May and Uncle Ben as the ones who raised him, but maybe Rami could make it work. Moreso than tampering with a near perfect reason for a hero' s origin.
I checked some message boards and many fans had scanned the trailer over-and-over again, as if it were some modern day Zapruder Film. One of the posters saw this:
"I saw a truck flying towards the taxi cab, after MJ looks back the truck is almost about to hit her. So yea another near death experience for MJ, but maybe Peter might save her, we don't know yet."
That got me to think, perhaps in Spider-man 3 Rami MIGHT have MJ die giving Pete (who fails to save her) a new guilt, replacing his Ben guilt. This way they won’t need Dunst for the sequel (who's only signed for three films), Gwen could be his new love interest reversing the comic history where MJ took over for the dead Gwen.
The only way this theory doesn’t work is perhaps the actress who plays Gwen isn’t enough of “a name” for future films (though at this point they may not need one.)
Six more months of theories, rumors and more times to watch the trailer.............
Well, right off we're told that the unnamed robber (who after seeing Spidey plunges to his death) isn't responsible for Uncle Ben's death.
Huh? The most powerful message from over 40 years of Spider-Man history is that he
LET escape the man who eventually killed his Uncle. That despite all his new powers he couldn't save Ben, that (wait for it) "With great power comes great responsibility".
But if what we're told in the trailer is true, Flint Marko (The Sandman) kills Ben to steal his car but when the bank robber (that Peter let go) flees the arena, steals the car and Marko hides in the trunk? That Marko is the man who killed Ben? So how is it now Pete's fault? Is Rami trying to say that BECAUSE Ben was waiting to pick up Pete at the library (where he wasn’t at) that Pete still has a reason to feel guilty over Ben’s death? Pretty lame reason to me.
If Rami wanted revenge as the origin of Venom and the basis of the film then why not say that Marko is responsible for the death of his parents? Sure, the death of Pete's parents had never been that important in the comics because Pete grew up with Aunt May and Uncle Ben as the ones who raised him, but maybe Rami could make it work. Moreso than tampering with a near perfect reason for a hero' s origin.
I checked some message boards and many fans had scanned the trailer over-and-over again, as if it were some modern day Zapruder Film. One of the posters saw this:
"I saw a truck flying towards the taxi cab, after MJ looks back the truck is almost about to hit her. So yea another near death experience for MJ, but maybe Peter might save her, we don't know yet."
That got me to think, perhaps in Spider-man 3 Rami MIGHT have MJ die giving Pete (who fails to save her) a new guilt, replacing his Ben guilt. This way they won’t need Dunst for the sequel (who's only signed for three films), Gwen could be his new love interest reversing the comic history where MJ took over for the dead Gwen.
The only way this theory doesn’t work is perhaps the actress who plays Gwen isn’t enough of “a name” for future films (though at this point they may not need one.)
Six more months of theories, rumors and more times to watch the trailer.............
Another Action Figure #1 Review!
Back again with another bit of self promotion as I continue to get the word out aboutAction Figure; From the Journals of Richard Marzelak.
(You know, the book where you can see preview pages click here
and buy it click here. )
Well, what better way of advertising then posting another online review. Today's reviewis from Yet Another Comics Blog:
Action Figure #1 by Richard Marcej Baboon Books, $3.50
In the first issue of Action Figure we are introduced to Richard Marzelak, a twenty-nine-year-old artist who works a 9-5 job at a toy company by day and draws comic strips for submission to the syndicates by night. Richard works in one of those offices we frequently see or read about in entertainment media that have the unfair, hard-ass boss; the sleazy sexual harasser, the impossibly unobtainable beauty, etc. In this first issue, Richard gets pulled off a plum assignment that is being given to the new artist and is instead stuck on a nowhere, no-brainer panda bear assignment instead, just as work comes down that the company has landed a plum contract with a Japanese anime property.
In his cover letter that came along with the review copy, Marcej as much as admits that he's drawing heavily on his own career as inspiration for this comic. He's no Harvey Pekar, and there's just too much in this first issue that feels like standard sitcom set-up. There are a couple of ways that Marcej could take the story to give it more of a unique vibe: bringing us deep inside the world of toys; and/or showing us why and how Richard Marzelak is a unique and interesting person in that world.
Fortunately Marcej has a couple of things going for him in this first issue. He has a good sense of storytelling and design; the comic flows very smoothly, and there's wonderful use of third color spot reds to highlight when Richard's active fantasy life takes over his attention. It's also an inherently interesting setting for a workplace comic, as long as the story gets beyond the standard office tropes.
According to Marcej this first issue did not meet Diamond's order threshold and will not be carried by the #1 distributor. Which is a shame, because this is an attractive, solid comic with an eye-catching cover and high production values, and one that shows promise. So while you probably won't be able to find it at your local comic store, if it sounds interesting you can order it directly from the self-publisher. Rating: 3 (of 5)
(You know, the book where you can see preview pages click here
and buy it click here. )
Well, what better way of advertising then posting another online review. Today's reviewis from Yet Another Comics Blog:
Action Figure #1 by Richard Marcej Baboon Books, $3.50
In the first issue of Action Figure we are introduced to Richard Marzelak, a twenty-nine-year-old artist who works a 9-5 job at a toy company by day and draws comic strips for submission to the syndicates by night. Richard works in one of those offices we frequently see or read about in entertainment media that have the unfair, hard-ass boss; the sleazy sexual harasser, the impossibly unobtainable beauty, etc. In this first issue, Richard gets pulled off a plum assignment that is being given to the new artist and is instead stuck on a nowhere, no-brainer panda bear assignment instead, just as work comes down that the company has landed a plum contract with a Japanese anime property.
In his cover letter that came along with the review copy, Marcej as much as admits that he's drawing heavily on his own career as inspiration for this comic. He's no Harvey Pekar, and there's just too much in this first issue that feels like standard sitcom set-up. There are a couple of ways that Marcej could take the story to give it more of a unique vibe: bringing us deep inside the world of toys; and/or showing us why and how Richard Marzelak is a unique and interesting person in that world.
Fortunately Marcej has a couple of things going for him in this first issue. He has a good sense of storytelling and design; the comic flows very smoothly, and there's wonderful use of third color spot reds to highlight when Richard's active fantasy life takes over his attention. It's also an inherently interesting setting for a workplace comic, as long as the story gets beyond the standard office tropes.
According to Marcej this first issue did not meet Diamond's order threshold and will not be carried by the #1 distributor. Which is a shame, because this is an attractive, solid comic with an eye-catching cover and high production values, and one that shows promise. So while you probably won't be able to find it at your local comic store, if it sounds interesting you can order it directly from the self-publisher. Rating: 3 (of 5)
Thursday, November 09, 2006
It's my Blog and I'll pimp if I want to...
The last time I mentioned my new comic series, Action Figure; From the Journals of Richard Marzelak, was waaaaay back here and a lot has happened since then. Some good, some not so good.
Without going into lengthy details (I'll save that for a future book) the comic has been printed, it made it's debut at SPX last month and is currently avaialble FOR SALE!! (hint, hint, nudge, nudge) on my web site.
For information about it (and any other of my books and comics) click here.
Or for preview pages click here.
Or hey, to just order the darned thing, click here.
(order now and receive a FREE comic, while supples last!)
I know what you're thinking, is it worth ordering? Well, rather than go on and on about it myself, starting today I'll be reprinting various reviews that have been posted about it on the net and in print.
Today, reprinted from Blog this, Pal!:
Review: Action Figure # 1
If you're a consistent reader of this blog, you know that I'm the kind of guy who listens to every commentary on DVDs, who pores over those "Behind the Scenes" featurettes, and who considers the Biography Channel must-see tv. So when I received the first issue of Action Figure from Baboon Books, I thought it would be a pretty accurate behind-the-scenes at a toy company in the 80's.
I'm glad that this is a book that, on the basis of its first issue, possesses a charm and style that is easily engaging.
The premise is simple: in the future, someone purchases (and reads) the journals of a man who worked in the 80s at a major toy company. This first issue contains what would be the prequisites for a sit-com; initial fake-out, followed by introductions of the cast and setting forth of initial plotlines. Of course, the set-up seems a little too familiar, but that may come more from watching this done poorly - Action Figure's challenge will be in the execution.
I really enjoyed this issue as a great first issue - things are quickly set in motion, and I found myself hoping there's an issue 2. (Hopefully, news will be announced on this blog). The artwork compliments the story - it's a mixture of realism and cartooniness that is a degree removed from, say, Barry Ween. The black-and-white artwork (with occasional red shadings) hits the right spot, and red is used sparingly for emphasis. All in all, this is a pleasurable read - one which hopefully will continue.
If you're looking for classic literature, this is not it - it is a fun, unpretentious, yet thoroughly enjoyable comic. After the sturm-und-drang of dealing with the majors, it's nice to have some good, solid storytelling.
Try this book. You won't be disappointed.
Without going into lengthy details (I'll save that for a future book) the comic has been printed, it made it's debut at SPX last month and is currently avaialble FOR SALE!! (hint, hint, nudge, nudge) on my web site.
For information about it (and any other of my books and comics) click here.
Or for preview pages click here.
Or hey, to just order the darned thing, click here.
(order now and receive a FREE comic, while supples last!)
I know what you're thinking, is it worth ordering? Well, rather than go on and on about it myself, starting today I'll be reprinting various reviews that have been posted about it on the net and in print.
Today, reprinted from Blog this, Pal!:
Review: Action Figure # 1
If you're a consistent reader of this blog, you know that I'm the kind of guy who listens to every commentary on DVDs, who pores over those "Behind the Scenes" featurettes, and who considers the Biography Channel must-see tv. So when I received the first issue of Action Figure from Baboon Books, I thought it would be a pretty accurate behind-the-scenes at a toy company in the 80's.
I'm glad that this is a book that, on the basis of its first issue, possesses a charm and style that is easily engaging.
The premise is simple: in the future, someone purchases (and reads) the journals of a man who worked in the 80s at a major toy company. This first issue contains what would be the prequisites for a sit-com; initial fake-out, followed by introductions of the cast and setting forth of initial plotlines. Of course, the set-up seems a little too familiar, but that may come more from watching this done poorly - Action Figure's challenge will be in the execution.
I really enjoyed this issue as a great first issue - things are quickly set in motion, and I found myself hoping there's an issue 2. (Hopefully, news will be announced on this blog). The artwork compliments the story - it's a mixture of realism and cartooniness that is a degree removed from, say, Barry Ween. The black-and-white artwork (with occasional red shadings) hits the right spot, and red is used sparingly for emphasis. All in all, this is a pleasurable read - one which hopefully will continue.
If you're looking for classic literature, this is not it - it is a fun, unpretentious, yet thoroughly enjoyable comic. After the sturm-und-drang of dealing with the majors, it's nice to have some good, solid storytelling.
Try this book. You won't be disappointed.
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Monday, November 06, 2006
Those were the days!
*sigh*
Recently, with the lack of finding new and interesting comics and books to buy and read at the local comic shop (good god folks, enough with all the superhero titles already!!!) I've been either buying or digging into my collections of classic comic strip reprints. The new collections of Peanuts, Dick Tracy and Walt & Skeezix are great! But I also have collections I've bought from the 80's & 90's which includes L'il Abner, Wash Tubbs & Captain Easy and the one I'm currently reading, Milton Caniff's Steve Canyon.
The volume I'm reading now reprints strips from 1948. That's 1948 folks, nearly 60 years ago. Last night I came across this particular Sunday strip (reprinted in Black & White for this collection) and features a monologue with the character Fancy.
In the first panel (see above) she's lounging about in lingere. In panel two we see a nice, behind shot as she prepares to disrobe:
And in panel three she's taking a bath:
The drawings and inks look great, of course. This was Caniff at the height of his career. Are they titillating? Sure, but that's in the character's (Fancy) nature. Remember, this was in the Sunday paper, from big city to small town USA. And you know what? No one was traumatized. Children's minds weren't warped. The country didn't collapse.
Now, try to do something like this, in George W.'s USA??? Good god they'd string you up. (or maybe water board you)
Ah, those really were "Happy Days".
Recently, with the lack of finding new and interesting comics and books to buy and read at the local comic shop (good god folks, enough with all the superhero titles already!!!) I've been either buying or digging into my collections of classic comic strip reprints. The new collections of Peanuts, Dick Tracy and Walt & Skeezix are great! But I also have collections I've bought from the 80's & 90's which includes L'il Abner, Wash Tubbs & Captain Easy and the one I'm currently reading, Milton Caniff's Steve Canyon.
The volume I'm reading now reprints strips from 1948. That's 1948 folks, nearly 60 years ago. Last night I came across this particular Sunday strip (reprinted in Black & White for this collection) and features a monologue with the character Fancy.
In the first panel (see above) she's lounging about in lingere. In panel two we see a nice, behind shot as she prepares to disrobe:
And in panel three she's taking a bath:
The drawings and inks look great, of course. This was Caniff at the height of his career. Are they titillating? Sure, but that's in the character's (Fancy) nature. Remember, this was in the Sunday paper, from big city to small town USA. And you know what? No one was traumatized. Children's minds weren't warped. The country didn't collapse.
Now, try to do something like this, in George W.'s USA??? Good god they'd string you up. (or maybe water board you)
Ah, those really were "Happy Days".
Sunday, November 05, 2006
My designs at K'NEX
One of my main jobs as Senior Designer at K'NEX is to work up and construct a new look for the packaging. The old look of K'NEX packages had the logo in a red oval and a large red band on the right hand side of the front of the front panel (yeah, they had a LOT of red in the old look)
What's new:
• The Logo (still white) is more simple surrounded by a rectangle of black.
• A front "frame" with the Logo Masthead on top (with "Imagine•Build•Play" and silhouettes of all the parts on the masthead). A Green Bar on the left, a Red Bar on the bottom and a Yellow Bar on the right.
• In the center of the "frame" is a large "Hero Build" (the Hero Build is a highlight of what you can build inside)
A nice thing about coming up with a new look for all the packages is that we're making the style guide as we go along.
More pictures of packages and other stuff in the next few days.
What's new:
• The Logo (still white) is more simple surrounded by a rectangle of black.
• A front "frame" with the Logo Masthead on top (with "Imagine•Build•Play" and silhouettes of all the parts on the masthead). A Green Bar on the left, a Red Bar on the bottom and a Yellow Bar on the right.
• In the center of the "frame" is a large "Hero Build" (the Hero Build is a highlight of what you can build inside)
A nice thing about coming up with a new look for all the packages is that we're making the style guide as we go along.
More pictures of packages and other stuff in the next few days.
Saturday, November 04, 2006
Friday, November 03, 2006
Thursday, November 02, 2006
Today's the First Day of the November Sweeps!
So to start this month out right I went over to Media News to see what goodies the Networks have planned for us. Today, beginning with ABC are their Premieres, Specials, Finales and Guest Stars (followed by my snarky remarks)
ABC Series Premieres:
-Day Break – Wednesday, Nov. 15: 9 p.m. ET
-Big Day – Tuesday, Nov. 28: 9 p.m. E
(Great scheduling guys, two new shows, a day apart, with “Day” in their title. I know that one of them is the “Groundhog Day” rip off, but I’ll damned if I remember which one)
-Show Me the Money – Tuesday, Nov. 14: 9:30-11 p.m. ET (preview)
(I’ll avoid this one on the principle that it’s named after one of the most over used and annoying movie quotes- EVER!)
Season Finales:
-Dancing With the Stars – Wednesday, Nov. 15: 8 p.m. ET
(YEAH!!! Now PLEEEEEEEAAASSEE DON’T BRING IT BACK!!!!!!!)
ABC Specials:
-A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving – Monday, Nov. 20: 8 p.m. ET (R)
-A Charlie Brown Christmas – Tuesday, Nov. 28: 8 p.m. ET (R)
Wait a minute, the Christmas special is only 8 DAYS after the Thanksgiving special? Geez, can they cram the holidays in any closer??!)
Guest Stars:
-Salma Hayek on Ugly Betty - Thursday, Nov. 9: 8 p.m. ET
-Jewel on Men in Trees - Friday, Nov. 10: 9 p.m. ET
-Martha Stewart on Ugly Betty - Thursday, Nov. 16: 8 p.m. ET
-JoBeth Williams on The Nine – Wednesday, Nov. 22: 10 p.m. ET
-Delta Burke on Boston Legal – Sunday, Nov. 26: 10 p.m. ET (special time period)
(Let's see: who cares, who cares, who cares, who cares and who cares. Ooh, hold me back. Better get my VCR set!)
ABC Series Premieres:
-Day Break – Wednesday, Nov. 15: 9 p.m. ET
-Big Day – Tuesday, Nov. 28: 9 p.m. E
(Great scheduling guys, two new shows, a day apart, with “Day” in their title. I know that one of them is the “Groundhog Day” rip off, but I’ll damned if I remember which one)
-Show Me the Money – Tuesday, Nov. 14: 9:30-11 p.m. ET (preview)
(I’ll avoid this one on the principle that it’s named after one of the most over used and annoying movie quotes- EVER!)
Season Finales:
-Dancing With the Stars – Wednesday, Nov. 15: 8 p.m. ET
(YEAH!!! Now PLEEEEEEEAAASSEE DON’T BRING IT BACK!!!!!!!)
ABC Specials:
-A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving – Monday, Nov. 20: 8 p.m. ET (R)
-A Charlie Brown Christmas – Tuesday, Nov. 28: 8 p.m. ET (R)
Wait a minute, the Christmas special is only 8 DAYS after the Thanksgiving special? Geez, can they cram the holidays in any closer??!)
Guest Stars:
-Salma Hayek on Ugly Betty - Thursday, Nov. 9: 8 p.m. ET
-Jewel on Men in Trees - Friday, Nov. 10: 9 p.m. ET
-Martha Stewart on Ugly Betty - Thursday, Nov. 16: 8 p.m. ET
-JoBeth Williams on The Nine – Wednesday, Nov. 22: 10 p.m. ET
-Delta Burke on Boston Legal – Sunday, Nov. 26: 10 p.m. ET (special time period)
(Let's see: who cares, who cares, who cares, who cares and who cares. Ooh, hold me back. Better get my VCR set!)
K'NEX Builds Part 2
As a follow up to this post, here at work you can see various special K'NEX builds. These are either for retailer exclusives or participatory museums throughout the country.
This first one pictured here is a fully functioning, 6 ft. tall Ferris Wheel
While pictured below and standing at a little over 4 feet is the Statue of Liberty hand and torch.
This first one pictured here is a fully functioning, 6 ft. tall Ferris Wheel
While pictured below and standing at a little over 4 feet is the Statue of Liberty hand and torch.
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