Thursday, February 25, 2010
Graphically Speaking: On Our Hero by Tom De Haven
Words: Christopher Irving
When Tom De Haven gave me an advance copy of Our Hero: Superman on Earth,
I wasn’t sure what to expect from what he’d referred to as “the Siegel and Shuster Superman book” for a few years prior. Monday, February 22, 2010
For the Love of Comics #10: Ben McCool's Best Bar Story
Intro & Pictures: Seth Kushner
I was planning on interviewing Ben McCool about his new Image Comics series, Choker. But, after reading some other recent interviews with Ben, I decided that he'd already answered everything I'd want to know, ad nauseum. Instead, I figured I'd ask Ben, a know frequenter of bars and a great chap to hang out with over drinks, to share his favorite bar story instead.
Take it away, Ben!
Ben McCool - Being a fully-fledged Englishman, I've managed to acquire a number of bar stories over my drinking career. Some are funny, others sad, and a few are just downright bizarre. Occasionally, I'm creatively inspired by the goings-on inside a drinking establishment; indeed, some of mankind's most primitive, impulsive behaviour takes place there. Writers thrive upon instances like these; they help determine exactly who we are and how we respond to spontaneous situations. Er, when inebriated.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
influencing Comics #9: Elizabeth Genco’s Non-Comics Influences
5 Goddesses And One Campy Movie
Like those of most artists, my list could easily have been twenty times the length. I’ve deliberately steered clear of the many living goddesses I’ve been blessed to know personally, because I would hate to leave anyone out.
Let’s start with the movie…
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Graphically Speaking: Loverboy by Irwin Hasen
Words: Christopher Irving
Full disclosure: I love Irwin Hasen. As a cartoonist, he’s still a master craftsman; as a person, he’s a peach of a guy with a wiseguy attitude. When you meet Irwin at shows, he’s always wearing an ever-present ascot, a short guy with bright blue eyes and a huge smile.
The girls love him. He’s sweet. He’s cute. He’s funny. Even my girlfriend has been charmed by Irwin on more than one occasion.
There’s another way Irwin’s still got it: His gutsy autobio graphic novel, Loverboy
, reveals how Irwin’s always had a way with the ladies, and delves into the reasons why Irwin Hasen has always been attracted to women much taller than his short frame.Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Graphically Speaking: The Life and Times of Savior 28
Words: Jared Gniewek
I've been on a rant the last few years about violence in super hero books. Not that I mind it. It is, after all, entertaining and visceral. But, to be aware that it is a fantasy of violence. A fantasy that doesn't translate effectively into our own world. I know that this sounds rather simplistic but I've been troubled by the militarism in comics and, as we do live during wartime, it's been important for me to keep the simple morality of comics simple... as ridiculous as it is. That enough situations merit fisticuffs in the lives of these costumed adventurers is preposterous.
Raina Telgemeier and Her Well-Deserved Smile
Words: Christopher Irving . Pictures: Seth Kushner
One of the first things I noticed about Raina Telgemeier, when I met up with her at St. Mark’s Comics in Greenwich Village, is that she has a beautiful smile.
She’s earned it, as her latest graphic novel, Smile
, attests. The coming-of-age Young Adult graphic novel follows Raina’s several dental visits through her teenage years, all to fix the two front teeth smashed up in a childhood accident.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Heads Up Display music video
Graphic NYC is pleased to present the latest music video directed by our own Seth Kushner and Carlos Molina, Formula Vs. Perfume by Heads Up Display. The band features comics creator and GNYC profile subject Kevin Colden (Fishtown, I Rule the Night) on drums. Also, look for the scene filmed at one of our favorite comic shops, Bergen Street Comics.
Formula VS. Perfume by Heads Up Display from Carlos Molina on Vimeo.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Odds & Gems #4.5: Hotwire Exhibit at the Scott Eder Gallery
Words: Gene Kogan
No sooner did my latest “Odds & Gems” launch last week, decrying the criminal lack of comic art exhibits, I get an email invitation to the latest exhibit at the Scott Eder Gallery, which was mentioned in said piece. This exhibit will feature original art from Fantagraphics’ excellent anthology, Hotwire vol. 3. With a launch party on Friday, February 12 and running through March 31st, the exhibit will showcase works by Rick Altergott, Glenn Head, Tim Lane, Sam Henderson, David Sandlin, R. Sikoryak, Chadwick Whitehead and others who contributed to this exceptional publication. This brings, under one roof, a superb collection of old school alternative artists and some of today’s finest young talent, cartoonists in the truest sense of the word and artists who have crossed over into the fine art realm. It’s a terrific opportunity to see these works displayed and respected in a way that should be obvious and prevalent, but very rarely is.
Remember the Silver Surfer?
An old pal, cartoonist Shannon Eric Denton, pointed out that Disney XD is showing reruns of the Silver Surfer cartoon he designed. According to Shannon, he went as Kirby as he could get away with in designing the Surfer, and it shows. The show ran a season in 1998, combining CGI with line art, and sadly didn't continue due to Marvel's bankruptcy problems. Episodes of Surfer (along with Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends, and other old Marvel animateds) are being aired on Disney XD.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Q and A: Joe Simon in 2001
Words: Christopher Irving
This interview was conducted in 2001, when Joe Simon was suing Marvel Comics for the copyright on Captain America.
CHRIS IRVING: What can you tell me about the creation of Captain America, in your own words?
JOE SIMON: When I was at Fox Comics, I was editor there, and I was still doing other features, like Blue Bolt. I had a little office on West 45th Street, and I was doing Blue Bolt, and Silver Streak, covers, and freelance work after hours. I’d just walk from Fox to my little office and do all this work. That included work for Funnies, Incorporated with Lloyd Jacquet. Lloyd Jacquet was selling stuff to Martin Goodman, also. You know about Jacquet?
Kirby Krackle
Words: Christopher Irving
I'm not a fan of the concept of a "nerd culture". I always felt that coolness lacked the self-deprecation that came with such a title. Kirby Krackle, a novelty rock band named after the outer space matter and energy "dots" devised by Jack Kirby, consider themselves "nerd rock".
They just sound like a fun pop culture oriented band to me.
For the Love of Comics #09: Kirby Gallery
By Seth Kushner
While compiling images to go along with all the articles for Kirby Week, I couldn't help but be disappointed by not being able to post enough Kirby classics. The man's staggering output throughout his career produced thousands upon thousands of masterpieces. For your viewing pleasure, I've selected just a handful of my favorite works by Kirby, some familiar, and some maybe unfamiliar. Scroll down and allow Kirby's greatness to wash over you.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
The Blue Beetle Comic Strip: Kirby's Intro to Superheroing 101
Words: Christopher Irving
Jack Kirby's first superhero work was on a third-rate character for an even lower-rated comic book publisher, Fox Comics. Not long out of his tenure with Will Eisner at Universal Phoenix, Kirby became a staffer on publisher Victor Fox's bullpen, cranking out the Blue Beetle daily strip, a failed shot at making a small character a success of Superman proportions.
Mike Allred Remembers Kirby
Kirby's version of Allred's creation from the Madman X 50 Bubblegum Card Set, 1994
When it comes to my favorite work by Jack, it would be the Fantastic Four
hands down. The family dynamic, the sheer original inventiveness of the science, machinery, and rich array of characters: Doctor Doom, The Inhumans, The Silver Surfer, Galactus, The Watcher, etc. In my opinion, it’s the best continuous 100 issues by anyone on anything ever! Following the FF would be his unbelievably creative Fourth World Opus, particularly the New Gods
. Yee-OW! It virtually ended up re-inventing the DC Universe as we know it today.Rick Veitch's Kirby meets Kirby
This previously unpublished photo* is from San Diego; taken in either in 1991 or 1992 I think. I have just introduced Jack Kirby to his namesake, Kirby Veitch. Jack’s response: “Yoiks!”
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Jack Kirby Makes Me Stupid by Dean Haspiel
Kirby: The Poem
Boom
Rumble at the earth's core
leaden feet arrive.
Furious tectonic shift
simper, it's alive.
Steve Rude honors Kirby
Steve Rude pays homage to Kirby in his rendition of Mr. Miracle.
You can tell how much somebody has affected your life by how often you think about them. I probably have thoughts of Jack Kirby at least several times a day. What I think about are all the comics he's done, which are stashed in my comic book holders, and how they influenced every decade of my life.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Jack Kirby: The King of Comics
Words: Christopher Irving . Pictures: Seth Kushner
--Jack Kirby, 1970
Jack Kirby’s eloquence wasn’t through words, it was through raw and violent action, pictorally speaking the language of the rough Depression streets he grew up on. This barrel-chested, short man with an ever-present cigar has been immortalized as the apotheosis of the great cartoonist, a powder keg of dynamism and creativity.
Kirby Week is here!
Graphic NYC celebrates the life of comics’ greatest artist, Jack “The King” Kirby, in their latest themed week of February 8th to 12th.
“The hardest part about Kirby week is that we want to say everything, but can’t say it all at once,” GNYC editor and writer Christopher Irving admits. “There’s no way you can love comics and not have been touched by Kirby’s powerhouse creativity at some point."
The week features two historical essays by Irving, one an appreciation of Jack Kirby and his work, and another spotlighting Jack’s obscure first superhero comic work in 1940.
"My main contribution to the site is usually to provide photographic portraits of our subjects," GNYC co-editor and art director Seth Kushner says. "Unfortunately, I never had the honor of photographing Mr. Kirby, but I think I've found an interesting alternative."
GNYC also features a smattering of guest contributions from some of the greatest names in comics. Kirby Week features tributes by Dean Haspiel, Steve Rude, Mike Allred, Mike Cavallaro, Rick Veitch and more.
GNYC's Profile on Kirby by Irving and Kushner
Mike Cavallaro on Kirby Kung-Fu
Jack Kirby Makes Me Stupid by Dean Haspiel
Jared Gniewek's Kirby: The Poem
Steve Rude on Kirby
Jack Kirby Draws the Golden Age Blue Beetle
Mike Allred Remembers Kirby
Rick Veitch's Kirby Meets Kirby
Kirby: The Poem
Kirby Gallery
"Nerd Rock" band Kirby Krackle
Mike Cavallaro on Kirby Kung-Fu
[Kirby's Richard Dragon]
Friday, February 5, 2010
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Odds and Gems # 4: The Buenaventura Catalog
Words: Gene Kogan
Art catalogues are a varied animal, like cats. Some are huge and fierce, thick hardbound with big images pouncing at you. Some are soft and meek, featuring listless images on standard house paper, enough to give you a sense of what’s represented, but little else. Others are small, but feral, sharp and unruly in design, yet still graceful. Still, others are bright, colorful and come with a cheerful disposition or black and white, somber and lackadaisical. And they’re temperamental. You never know what catalog you’re going to get at a given show, if any at all. Some absurdly expensive artists or exhibits have been represented by some of the blandest of catalogs, essentially little more than something to hold in your hand while examining the pieces, a paper glass of wine, if you will. While some shows featuring unknowns have put out books that rival the work hanging on the walls. Much depends on the artist and their appreciation of printed matter, or the gallery and it’s penchant for promotion, or the curator or the art director and what they feel properly represents the work or the artist. I’ve seen them as giveaways at galleries or small run zines and I’ve seen them as signed and numbered slip-cased editions, which require a double bagging in Mylar, locked up in a safe deposit box and buried beneath a fallout shelter.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
GNYC recommends
Two books came out in stores this week, and come highly recommended from us.
Raina Telgemeier, the cartoonist behind the Babysitter Club graphic novels, goes longform with Smile, her coming of age through a series of traumatic dental procedures in her high school days. While Raina will be featured on GNYC week after next, you can check out the online version of Smile, or (even better) run to your local comic book shop or Barnes and Noble to snag a copy.
Here's the trailer-
Brian Wood and Becky Cloonan release their much-anticipated follow up to their ground-breaking Demo mini-series. Demo II #1 comes out today, displaying even more of the pair's diversity.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Brian Michael Bendis Takes Siege of New York
Words: Christopher Irving . Pictures: Seth Kushner
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