Judd Winick's Green Lantern run included the 2-part "Hate Crime" arc in 2002 that dealt with a homophobic attack on Kyle Rayner's friend, Terry Berg, and the emotional conflict of the hero's inability to prevent the atrocity. Penned by the noted Pablo & Me writer, it proved to be an emotional story backed with a one-year anniversary tribute to 9-11 that was anything but a 'very special issue of Green Lantern'. What we get here is an array of responses to the act fear, from his attackers raging selfish behavior to Terry's boyfriend's sole survivor syndrome. Steve's account of the attacks relates some real, visceral homophobia. It's a Green Lantern story at its most fundamental- the effects of fear, and the byways that willpower must go to defeat it.
It's got to be rough for an independent artist to make a name for himself in this market. Especially if this up and comer also happens to be an alcoholic, promiscuous gay rabbit. Fortunately, Rick Worley's semi-autobiographical webcomic A Waste of Time takes these problems and turns them into filthy, filthy comedic gold. Worley's lovable lagomorph is the raunchy whore I can only pretend to be in my worst moments of inebriation, and it makes for some of the funniest original content I've read in a while. He's got some solid art to back his writing, his inks come off like a crosshatching Jhonen Vasquez or a cartoony R. Crumb. Though the panel you see here is one of the more tame pieces in the archives, so tread carefully, youngins'.
So show some support, check out the artwork, and maybe fulfill this bunny's sadomasochistic prayers (oh Rick...if only you weren't 3,000 miles away...) through
According to Collider.com, the film adaptation of Hack/Slash is still in the works and has a new director. The producers - Adrian Askarieh and Daniel Alter - say they'll have casting announcements soon and plan to be filming next year. Of course, my reflex reaction is to take it with a grain of salt: they've passed more than one announced date for filming or release already, and changes in director can sometimes signal that something is stuck in development hell.
Personally, I have mixed feelings about the comic Hack/Slash. On the one hand, it's a pretty clever premise. The main character is a survivor of a classic horror film killing spree - the kid left alive at the end, more or less - who has dedicated her life to hunting and killing "slashers," supernatural creatures who go around killing in the same methodical, often vengeful manner as a Jason or a Freddy. On the other hand, I sometimes find myself not quite sure how to feel about it.
Don't you just love it when your favorite funny book creators mix it up in other mediums?
Well, Captain America scribe extraordinaire Ed Brubaker has come to the world of the internet with a new web-only series called Angel of Death. And this ain't no comic book, folks. This is a flesh and blood series with bona fide humans.
Head on over to Crackle.com to check out the first episode of Angel of Death and then you can head back every weekday for the next chapter.
In the interest of full discretion, let me first say that I am not a devout follower of Watchmen. I think it's a good book and I appreciate its finer points, but I do not think it's the be all and end all of graphic novels. I'm weird like that (and many, many other ways).
What I'm even less a fan of is the fact that Zack Snyder (director of 300) is making a film of Alan Moore's graphic novel. Much of what I did enjoy in Watchmen would be damn near impossible to translate to film, but they never asked me. Who did they ask? Apparently one Mr. Devin Faraci of CHUD.com.
Here's a snippet of what he had to say.
I was sold after the set visit. I knew that Zack Snyder 'got' Watchmen, that he wasn't turning it into 300, that he and his team were paying an obsessive amount of attention to detail and fidelity. After talking to Zack on set (and at a couple of other events - I must have interviewed this guy about 20 times on the subject of Watchmen) I knew that he was attempting to service the graphic novel and not trying to bend it to his style or his will. I also knew that he wasn't just making a slavish adaptation - his film would attempt to live on its own.
I was sold on the intentions and on the approach. My mantra was 'If Watchmen is bad it won't be due to a lack of love and effort.' My new mantra is 'Watchmen won't be bad.'
That's how good the 25 minutes that Snyder screened for the press was. From the scenes we were shown I feel comfortable saying that Snyder has nailed it. Watchmen looks amazing.
Our boy Frank Castle is headed back to a console near you (assuming you own a PS3) for some head crackery and bullet firery. Let's ge the word from those jolly blokes over at Joystiq ...
Sony announced today that Frank Castle will be, as rumored, returning to video games. The surprise? He'll be doing it exclusively on PSN in Punisher: No Mercy. The Unreal Engine 3-based title is being developed by Zen Studios, of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Mushroom Men fame.
Though we mentioned Frank Castle earlier, we doubt all of you will get to play as the titular Punisher, as the first-person shooter promises "intense arena-based multiplayer action" featuring characters like Jigsaw, Bushwacker, Barracuda and Silver Sable. We haven't heard or seen nearly enough to pass judgment, but what we've got now just leaves us befuddled. Help us figure it all out with your perspective in the comments.
An arena shooter seems an odd choice for the Punisher, given his tendency toward a lone wolf status, but here's definite potential in there.
As you may have noticed when going to the comic shop last week, Garth Ennis has left the Punisher book under Marvel's MAX imprint. With issue #60, Ennis ends an eight year tenure as writer for the esteemed Frank Castle. AN eight year run on any character would put a writer in the list of major runs, but Ennis did it so well that he has risen to be the dominant and the to-beat writer for the Punisher.
Forgetting the initial Marvel Knights relaunch (Really? A Heaven-sent, angel-powered, demon-killing Punisher? Not a bad premise, but so the wrong character to use it on.), we were treated to the twelve issue "Welcome Back, Frank" limited series that roared into sales and hearts of readers. From there, Ennis began a career redefining epic that brought Frank from black comedy and guest stars like Spider-Man and Wolverine to one of the grittiest, darkest, most real world characters mainstream comics has seen to date
Yes, I admit it. I love puns. Sorry, but you'll have to deal with it. (Especially since you'll be seeing that one an awful lot come review time, I'd wager.)
For some strange reason, Lionsgate has released the first trailer for the forthcoming Punisher: War Zone, due in theaters this December. It seems early to be releasing it and you'd figure if they wanted a summer roll out for it they'd wait for the San Diego ComiCon, but I'm sure they have their reasons.
As for your pretty little selves, you can head over to IGN to check out the Ray Stevenson ass kickery for yourselves.
With the major media push going on for Iron Man right now and with things just starting to heat up on the new Hulk film, it's easy to forget that Marvel has a third movie coming out this year.
Due in September, Punisher: War Zone is a semi-sequel to 2004's Punisher film starring Tom Jane. The less said of 1989's Dolph Lundgren version the better (oh, Louis Gossett Jr., how could you?!) The movie isn't going to be a strict sequel, but more of another story. With the origin out of the way, director Lexi Alexander (writer and director of the amazing Green Street Hooligans) decided to forego Jonathan Hensleigh's route of moving Frank to Florida and has brought the Punisher to the mean streets of New York.
Facing off against perennial baddie Jigsaw (Dominic West), Frank (Ray Stevenson) will have help from Microchip (Wayne Knight) and Det. Soap (Dash Mihok) from Garth Ennis's Marvel Knights series.
Though it's pretty bare bones at the moment, the official website for The Punisher: War Zone has launched. It's got all of two photos so far, but you can sign up to be e-mailed of any updates.
Joseph Michael Linsner is one of those artists whose books I read solely because of how pretty they look. I've never been particularly wowed by any of the Dawn comics' writing, but I keep on buying the damn things because Linsner's paintings make for such lovely images.
Over at Comic Book Resources, Eva Hopkins sat down and explained how she and Joseph worked out the cover art for their upcoming Dark Ivory, due to be published by Image Comics. It's a quick little read, but one I'd recommend for anyone who does comic-style artwork.
I'm actually a pretty big fan of the Dark Horse Comics omnibus books, mainly because they ease my commuter pain when I have to sit in airports. So far, I've worked my way through both the first Aliens vs. Predator and Predator collections.
I've always been a huge fan of the Terminator comics which Dark Horse has published (the Robocop crossover is still a favorite of mine), and now I'll get to catch up on a number of the miniseries I missed reading when I was growing up because they're going to released in the first two volumes of the Terminator Omnibus. Volume 1 is coming out on February 20, with the second volume arriving in March.
Meanwhile, somewhere in Canada, director Lexi Alexander took time off from her busy schedule to give an update to fans on the progression of The Punisher: War Zone(due to his theaters in September). I've been following the development of this film with some interest, as the director's cut of the 2004 version of The Punisher is a guilty pleasure of mine. However, based on Ms. Alexander's blog, it sounds like things are heading in the right direction and that this film with be much more true to its comic origins:
Tim Bradstreet was especially helpful to us during prep and we were lucky enough to get him on the phone a couple of times to pick his brain. So you can imagine how stoked I am to get Tim’s first reaction to what he had seen of the film so far. Here is an excerpt from his email: “I had an opportunity to see a ton of stills from the film and it looks sensational. The Jigsaw makeup is top. LOVED seeing Doug Hutchinson look like such a hard assed nut, and of course, Ray Stevenson looks AWESOME. They lit a lot of it like I light and [they] did a great job.”
Having looked at the pictures Alexander posted, I have to agree: Ray Stevenson (even though he no longer is wearing a toga and slaughtering Romans) does look fantastic as Frank Castle.
Review: Wonder Woman #1 - #5
OK, so a couple of unkind reviews from me of late. Does that mean I hate the whole New 52? No, not at all. Does it mean that I only enjoy the new characters? Definitely not. Case in point: Wonder Woman is one of my favorite books of the relaunch. I think it's very good, with strong writing, an excellent ambience and fantastic art. Read on for why this reboot is the first time I've ever subscribed to Wonder Woman!...
