Who Watches the Watchmen?

You can add this to the list of things I didn't see at the convention last weekend (good grief, it's like I wasn't even there). Ain't It Cool News just posted high res versions of the new Watchmen character posters and they look totally cool.

I'm not in love with the book like many comic fans (probably because I read it years after its release when every comics features "real" heroes), but I'm getting more and more excited for the film every time I see something new from the production. The trailer rocked. The stills I've seen look fun. And now, I just dig these new posters. I like how each one sort of hides the line "Who watches the Watchmen" somewhere in the image. Well, all of them but the Silk Spectre one (or is that Sally Jupiter?). I've looked, and I can't find it anywhere on the poster. Anyone else spot it? (Click here for a much larger version.)

Meanwhile, Rich questions just how comfortable the Silk Spectre costume really is now that we get a shot from a different angle. I think he's right...doesn't look exactly made for crime fighting.



Edited to add: Those new Watchmen posters are new takes on the vintage ads for the comic. I like 'em even more now.

Mile High Comic Club

I ran by Mile High Comics yesterday and Aaron mentioned that a local artist was doing the art for a new Vertigo book called Madame Xanadu. This was the first time in all the years that I've gone to the comic shop that he mentioned anyone local was in the comic creation business. Not sure why, exactly, but for some reason I doubted that an artist would hail from Denver. Everyone else I've met in my short stint in comics comes from one of the coasts or lives in Pennsylvania or Texas. Certainly not Denver.

But he persisted. "Seriously. Amy Reeder Hadley shops here," he said. I flipped through the first issue (which actually came out last month) and was impressed by the art. I bought it. I read it. Now I'm surprised that I never heard of Hadley before. Her art fit the tone of the book to a tee. It has a hint of manga, but is firmly grounded in the fantasy world. I don't normally get into fantasy, but I'm eager to go back and pick up issue 2.

Anyway, I researched Hadley and discovered she's also writing and doing the art chores for Fool's Gold, a TokyoPop series. And she's from Denver. Right in my own neighborhood. Who knew? Unfortunately, I got this information a week too late or I would've introduced myself at the con.

But Hadley isn't the only Mile High Comic Creator. I met Chachi Hernandez on the flight to San Diego. Turns out he and his brother write and draw a strip called Joe Comics, which is currently up for voting over at zuda. He was a nice guy who seemed eager to be at the convention. I looked over some of his art and was very impressed. So much so that I invited him to pitch me a story for Dear Santa.

What does this all mean? Just that I'm learning that there are more and more comic creators right here in my own backyard. Now if we could just get some sort of convention out here and maybe even more artists and writers nearby will start to come out of the woodwork.

These Boots are Made for Walking

Shoes actually. Two new pair to be even more precise. And who is it doing the walking? Caleb Monroe, one cool cat who just happens to be a fantastic comic book writer. He bought new shoes and a pedometer this year to see just how far he walks during the convention. His findings are pretty surprising.

I knew there's a lot of walking each year, but I had no idea it was that much. No wonder I'm beat after the first couple of days. Next year I'll try to be prepared and actually bring walking shoes instead of forgetting to pack them and being stuck with my more dressy work shoes the entire time.

Comics Coast-to-Coast

Well, Jason Rodriguez managed to pull off his coast-to-coast comic adventure. He pulled out of DC on July 14 on his way to the convention. Ten days, several cases of beer, and 3300 miles later, he was in San Diego enjoying the biggest comic nerd fest the world has to offer.

If you haven't read his comments from the road, Coast-to-Coast Comicdom over at DCist.com, you should do yourself the favor. He hits a bunch of comic shops and chats with retailers, fans, and creators from across the US. It's an enlightening and fun read. Go check it out.

In his last report, you'll read about the Eisner ceremony where Postcards: True Stories That Never Happened lost to 5 for Best Anthology. I haven't read 5 so I can't speak to its worthiness, but judging by the creators involved, I can understand why they went home with the award. Stephanie and I were at the ceremony and for us, it was a thrill just to see a book I was a part of mentioned with other greats from the comic world. Sure, it sucks to lose, I won't lie about that. But at this point, I really can say it feels great just to be nominated.

If Comic Book Adventure Had a Name...

I was in need of a quick read last night, so I picked up my copy of Indiana Jones Adventures Volume 1. Say what you will about a grown man reading an adventure comic aimed at kids, but the thing was damn good. This is exactly the way an Indiana Jones comic should be put together.

Phillip Gelatt's story is pretty simple, but it's got a nice fast pace that hones in on the action and excitement Indy is known for (unlike some of the other Dark Horse Indy comics that, for whatever reason, tend to stay away from the fun side of things). I really enjoyed Ethan Beavers' art, too. Like the story, it was simple and focused on the action with some dynamic angles and good decisions on what to show and what not to.

I haven't bothered reading the new Dark Horse Indiana Jones series, but with more Indy Adventures books on the way (I hope) I won't have to.

Guess Who's Back

More great news coming out from the convention. Mike Grell is back writing The Warlord for DC Comics starting sometime in early 2009. Perhaps even better news is that the series won't have anything to do with the miniseries from 2006 (what a disaster that was).

I consider The Warlord my gateway drug into the world of super hero comics. I didn't start reading funny books until I learned that new Star Wars and Indiana Jones stories could be found at comic shops. My interest in those waxed and waned for some time, and so did my interest in comics. Then I tried The Warlord. And WHAM! just like that, I was hooked. I loved the swords, I loved the epic battles and evil overlords with cool names (reminded me of the Pelucidar series by Edgar Rice Burroughs), and of course, I loved the scantily clad ladies.

As a boy, I couldn't get enough of the series. Every month I was at the comic shop or at 7-11, hoping to learn what happened next to Travis Morgan, Tara, and Machiste. I could never decide what I wanted to see more on the cover: Morgan with sword in hand battling some creature or the half-naked Shakira (of course, the best featured both). And because I became somewhat of a Warlord junkie, I began to frequent the local comic shop more and more. Eventually the owner tempted me with Green Arrow, Batman, The Amazing Spider-Man, and Uncanny X-Men. After that, all that remained for my love affair with comics was to learn how to keep them pristine and minty fresh.

I'll always consider The Warlord my first love. So I'm very excited to have him back. With Grell penning the series, my expectations are high, and I know it'll be difficult to recapture that same feeling I had reading the series as a kid. But I've got my fingers crossed. Even if the new book isn't that great, I still hope that DC finally gets around to reprinting those old stories. That way I can get my fix one more time without risking damage to those nearly perfect copies in my closet.

Sweet News: New Pulp Adventure Series

Just got word that Charles Ardai, the man behind Hard Case Crime, will be editing a series called The Adventures of Gabriel Hunt. This series is intended to be to pulp adventure fiction what Hard Case Crime is to crime fiction. That notion gets to thumbs up from this fan.

I grew up reading Edgar Rice Burroughs, Robert E. Howard, and a few other science fiction/adventure pulp masters. And I've been known to read an Indiana Jones novel from time to time, too. Just recently I started looking for new, modern books to read along the whole pulp adventure vein. And here we are with something to look forward to in 2009.

Yep, this new series sounds like it will be right up my alley. Can't wait to hear more about it.

Loot From the Con

I just returned from another fantastic trip to San Diego for the convention. Unlike the last couple of years, I actually bought something this time. That's right, instead of coming home empty handed I managed to come home with some loot.

I didn't come home with much, though. I was just too overwhelmed with all the things you can buy. And because I could find most of it online for much cheaper than cover price or SRP, why bother. Instead, I focused on the one limited item I had to have: Frank Cho's 2008 San Diego print. It features a sexy maiden being captured by one of the brutal green men of Mars. As an Edgar Rice Burroughs fan, I had to buy this gorgeous print with beautiful colors by Brandon Peterson. Of course, it was the limited nature of the print that made me run to the Image booth moments after getting my badge, but that's beside the point.

While I was there, I also picked up a copy of Cho's latest sketchbook, Mars Maidens. I already own most of the images in the book, but with that title and the limited nature of the book, I couldn't refuse. At least he signed it and did a quick doodle. In about 3 seconds, he drew a well-endowed naked lady. He could probably draw that with his eyes closed.

I decided against picking up his other sketch book, Jungle Girls, but upon getting home and checking eBay prices, I regretted that decision almost immediately. Oh well, at least I managed to get the other one home without a ding, scratch, or tear.