Posts Tagged ‘Jim Lee’

Boy is it so much crazier than the last one at the Javits.  They seem to really be trying to make strides towards it being more like the SDCC.  Tons of great panels.  A lot of famous people walking around (I brushed against Christopher Meloni, and a friend told me he saw Christopher Nolan…not sure on that one though).  Don’t forget Chris Schafer.  Wait, what?
The signings at the Marvel and DC booths have been hectic and kind of disorganized.  I’ve seen people (fans) start makeshift lines and then the staff decide on going with it.  Arguments insuing on clusters of “friends” cutting ahead.  The staff also either don’t allow sketches, or rush the artists along and set limits.  Reeeeal awesome if you have been waiting in line for an hour…or NOT.  I actually got double stiffed on one, but that’s a story for when I get home to my laptop.
Do these convention workers not realize why the creators are there in the first place?  For…The…Fans! 
I felt much more at home in artist alley than in the main hall.  People can barely get there act together to walk straight and not cause congestion.  I found myself speedily counting the variables in my head of who’s going to move where and when as I weaved throught the crowd, dodging giant Transformers and little anime girls.  Oh yeah, and fifty Zatannas.  Obviously she used her infinite replication incantation.  “!YLPITLUM EM”.
The way they marketed it as the NYCC/Anime Con probably added to the overwhelming Saturday turn out.  I’ve swam through cement faster.  Ok, enough about that.
I was able to speak with quite a few artists.  Derek Fridolfs and Dustin Nguyen are taking over the art in Batgirl, which is exciting.  Fridolfs told me they will be bringing in a new villain during ‘Batman: Streets Of Gotham”.  He assured me that it will lend itself well.  I asked him about Thomas Wayne’s drunken behavior two issues ago, and he replied that it seems they are possibly trying to make it as though the playboy gene runs in the family.  I don’t know how I feel about that, but do like to see a certain depth and backstory added to Bruce’s parent’s life (when most of what we know of them is their deaths).  As always I asked everyone what they like to read on their down time.  Most answer that they have no free time outside of drawing or writing.  This I find kind of ironic, since they got into comics in the first place because of their passion for the medium, and now they can’t indulge in it as much.  Small price to pay, I suppose, for a childhood dream and adding to the mythos of a worldwide beloved character.  Fridolfs did say that he enjoys Savage Dragon and whenever Mignola treats us with a written and drawn one shot.  He asked me what I love and, other than Batman, agreed on everything Mignola (we’ve had this same convo at more than one convention…hah).  You might like this; when I told him I will probably have to cut back on the amount of titles I buy weekly, he said that they are thinking about dropping the price of books by a dollar!  Seriously, this shouldn’t even be a debate after all the ever constant massive crossovers they put us through. 
Don Kramer was another great guy.  We talked about his run on Detective, and shared the same favorite issue (when Joker takes Robin hostage on a little holiday joy ride), but he was kinda bummed that he rarely got to actually draw Bruce with the cape and cowl on.  When speaking about getting into his new gig on Straczynski’s Wonder Woman run, he was very candid.  He showed me some fantastic upcoming panels which he is trying to ink, as well.  It seemed he felt that she didn’t need the controversial costume change, being that she’s supposed to just be a normal girl trying to unravel a mystery in that new reality, but wishes he would have had a part in the design none the less.  Now that he is acclimated to Diana’s new style, Mr. Kramer has, however, taken the liberty of swapping her metal cuff/bracelets out for really cool gauntlets.  One thing I took away from our chat was that he wishes he had more time to perfect things and give it his absolute all.  Looks like DC wants to pump them out, and lays down some intense deadlines, but I could be wrong.
Fabian Nicieza showed me some revealing panels where Bruce is back (in his new get up) and is talking to Tim (who looks extremely happy to have his adopted father back) about the formation of Batman Inc.  Tim splits no hairs and wastes no time reminding Bruce that it was his idea first.  Mr. Nicieza seemed really pleased with that, and with the fact that he’ll still be able to write Dick Grayson as Batman (if you recall, he wrote on some Nightwing) since Bruce will be taking his cape and cowl international at times.  Two Bat-men?  The more the merrier I say!…maybe.
Lastly, I couldn’t even get into the animated Green Lantern series preview.  It was packed to the rafters.  Very disappointing.  Then, after waiting to see the new Young Justice preview, I jumped ship and headed straight to the first screening of Secret Origins.  It was a small room and I was the first one in.  The family of the founder of DC comics, Major Malcolm Wheeler Nicholson, was at hand in the row next to me.   The documentary about the formation and evolution through the years of one of the greatest comic book companies (number one in my book) was narrated by Ryan Reynolds.  Historical, funny, informative, and at times touching, the film was a treat to watch.  Full of writers, artists and editors, it chronicled not only mainstream DC, but also the indie off-shoots that followed when the medium was in dire need of being shaken up and offered to a new/broader audience.  I am glad I got to watch it in that small venue.  You should definitely check it out when it is released November 9th.
If you haven’t checked out Dave Mammina’s table, please do.  Both books and concept art have been selling.  Signings are free and so is a sketch if you purchase a book. 
Sorry for the lack of pics and videos.  I’m mobile updating, and it doesn’t seem to port well yet.  Tomorrow night I should get a real post up.
See you tomorrow at The Walking Dead panel and first full clips.
—ExSleepyInk
P.S.  I met Bob Camp, and he drew for me.  Suck on that world!   …awwww…come back world.  I just got overzealous.  The excitement over took me.  We friends still?  Good.

With only a little over a month left until zero hour, I know everyone is gearing up for what should hopefully be the best NYCC to date!  If you’re like me, the tension is building.  Will you get the chance to chat up all your favorite creators?  Will you get all the sketches you’ve been dreaming of year round? (Better get there early–with enough money– if you want one from an artist like Brian Bolland, and be ready to possibly come back another day).  Are you going to shake hands with Bruce Campbell, or get a photo-0p with Katee Sackhoff?  It’s enough to keep you in a panic attack for days!  I know I’m already digging out all of the comics I want signed and writing myself a memo of all the artists I’m dying to have draw in my sketchpad.  I’d like you to be able to do the same, so I did some research.  Get a pen and paper ready!  Some of the keystone guests are Stan Lee and  John Romita Sr and Jr.  Others include Geoff Johns, Jeph Loeb, Jim Lee, David Finch, Brian Michael Bendis, J. Michael Straczynski, Adam, Andy, and Joe Kubert, Chris Claremont, Darwyn Cooke, Tony Daniel, Joe Quesada, Jimmy Palmiotti, Amanda Conner, Geof Darrow, Dan Didio, Matt Fraction, Adam Hughes, Mark Morales, Michael Golden, Bob Layton,  Dustin Nguyen, Greg Pak, Peter Tomasi, and much much more!  Be sure to also check out one of my best friends, David V Mammina, who will have a table showcasing his four novels (one of which I did some sketches for).  He is a dedicated writer of mostly dark fantasy, and a very humble guy.  We will be covering the event, so if you see our badges, come up and say hi.  We’d love to see you all!  The 2010 NYCC is October 8th through the 10th (That’s friday through sunday, folks!).  Below is a list of who you will find in my favorite place, Artist Alley. 

–ExSleepyInk

Now who thought that this film was going to turn out well?!?!?! I you did and so did I. But now that the details are out, I for one have more than just SOME doubts. With Bryan Singer involved and Matthew Vaughn directing ; you would believe that this movie was going to be great. It is just a fact. If Marvel doesn’t have control over the film it is doomed to suck. And suck royally. Here are the facts. You decide for yourself.

• It takes place in the 1960s where Kennedy is still president.
• Equality and racism are key issues with Martin Luther King and Malcolm X dominating mainstream media with the Civil Rights movement (foreshadowing (even mirroring) the mutant situation to come).
• Director Matthew Vaughn is very interested in the setting and what Singer describes as the “James Bond tech of the time”, as Harry puts it.
• Shooting will begin with Charles Xavier attending Oxford University.
• We’ll get to see classic X-Men costumes, much more similar to the comics than we’ve seen in previous movies.
• The movie will be the franchise’s most international yet, with shooting taking place in the U.S. and England, and the story also involving at least The Soviet Union as well.
• We’ll get a first look at some X-Men: First Class costumes within a month.

• Story will explore how Charles Xavier (Professor X) and Erik Lensherr (Magneto) met and their goals for the future of mutants (Origin of X-Men and their initial purpose).
• Lensherr and Xavier will be in their late twenties – Xavier will have hair and function of his legs.
• Cyclops and Jean Grey are NOT in the movie. Havok definitely is and Lucas Till will be playing him.
• January Jones is Emma Frost and there’s no truth to Rosamund Pike’s involvement.
• Singer is excited about them getting Nicholas Hoult as Beast because of a fortunate delay in start date for Mad Max: Fury Road.
• Kevin Bacon’s villain is in fact, Sebastian Shaw. Yes, that means Hellfire Club is in X-Men: First Class.
• Singer explains the 1960s setting is perfect for the Hellfire Club, from the characters to costumes.
• There are other characters that will be in the film that they’re keeping secret.

What in the world is going on. Have any of these guys read ANY comics!?!?! Besides some of the cool actors in the film why is it even called X-Men. Call it X-Men Origins: Xavier. Being an X-Men comic fan and just knowing the stories of some of these heroes makes me wonder if this film is being made to hold onto the copyright.  It probably;y is. You will see me protesting this film for the duration of production and there after. Why does making a film adaptation always mean destroying what the entire mythology is all about. Even if you want to craft a new story PLEASE stick to the blue print.

My dream X-men movie is something written by Chris Claremont. Anything from his run with John Bryne, Jim Lee or Salvador Larroca. The first storyline of the X-Men series by Claremont and Lee would be fantastic. Talking about art and film making. That would be a work of art. Well I guess as long as Marvel doesn’t own the rights to the X -Franchises we will continue to get movies like this one. I can only pray for the Wolverine sequel.