Conan O’Brien and “Flaming C” make special Comic-Con appearance
TBS talk show host Conan O’Brien made his first-ever appearance at Comic-Con International on Friday. Appearing at the “Green Lantern: The Animated Series” panel in Room 6BCF, Conan O’Brien unveiled the trailer to “The Flaming C,” a character created by O’Brien and Bruce Timm.
Tulsa-based artist Dustin Evans is among the artists providing art for the Flaming C gallery at Comic-Con. Check out the gallery online here.
- Matt Price
Click past the cut for Conan O’Brien promotional art.
Artist Jeremy Haun to draw Artifacts, The Darkness
Artist Jeremy Haun is about to take a walk on the dark side.
The Joplin, Mo.-based artist recently signed an exclusive contract with Top Cow, to take over as the artist of “The Darkness.”
Greg Horn to provide art for “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark”
Comic book artist Greg Horn will provide artwork for the Broadway show “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark,” creating high-end illustrations for the play’s line of merchandise and imagery for the official program guide, according to a news release.
Sergio Aragones of MAD magazine looks back at career
Considered one of the world’s fastest cartoonists, Sergio Aragones and his team had plenty to choose from for his entry in the book series “Mad’s Greatest Artists.” “Sergio Aragones: Five Decades of His Finest Works” features cartoons from throughout the Mad Magazine artist’s career, dating back to the early 1960s.
Holiday gift ideas for comic-book fans include art books, anniversary titles
Paul Levitz with his book, "75 Years of DC Comics."
WORD BALLOONS
With Black Friday upon us, those with comic book fans in their lives might be considering what items relating to the hobby would make good holiday gifts. There are several items, from archival reprints to art books and histories, that might make good selections.
2010 marks the 75th anniversary of DC Comics, so several items are available celebrating that landmark. Paul Levitz has written the enormous “75 Years of DC Comics: The Art of Modern Mythmaking” ($200) from Taschen, recounting the company’s history with lots of beautifully presented art. The hardcover book “DC Comics Year by Year: A Visual Chronicle” ($50) takes fans on a chronological tour through important events in DC Comics’ publishing history.
For those who may be fans primarily of DC Comics’ artwork, “DC Comics: The 75th Anniversary Poster Book” ($40) provides a look at some of DC’s greatest covers, which can be pulled out as posters if desired.
Another DC Comics-related book of interest is “Icons: The DC Comics & Wildstorm Art of Jim Lee” ($39.95), which recounts the post-Marvel comics art of the DC Comics co-publisher, who has drawn story lines including “Superman: For Tomorrow” and “Batman: Hush.” Fans of classic comics may want to try out “Shazam!: The Golden Age of the World’s Mightiest Mortal” ($35), which looks back at the phenomenon of Captain Marvel from comics’ Golden Age.
Aspiring comic book artists might be interested in “Stan Lee’s How to Draw Comics” ($24.99), which covers essential elements in comic book creating, or “Bryan Hitch’s Ultimate Comics Studio” ($24.99), which shows the techniques of the popular comic book penciller.
If your comic fan’s taste runs more toward the indie, Oni Press has released a complete box set of all of the “Scott Pilgrim” graphic novels. Called “Scott Pilgrim’s Precious Little Box Set” ($72), this slipcased collection contains all six of Bryan Lee O’Malley’s “Pilgrim” graphic novels, in which a slacker must defeat all of his new girlfriend’s evil exes.
Marvel Comics fans may enjoy “Marvel Avengers: The Ultimate Character Guide” ($16.99), which gives a rundown on the various characters that were part of “The Avengers” over the years.
- Matt Price
From Friday’s The Oklahoman
First page of “Watchmen” to be auctioned
From Heritage:
DALLAS, TX – The original art of Page #1, Issue #1 of The Watchmen, the very beginning of one of the most acclaimed comic sagas ever – and one of Time Magazine’s All-Time 100 Greatest Novels in 2005 – will be auctioned by Heritage Auctions, without reserve, on 19 Nov., as part of its Signature® Comic and Comic Art Auction.
The art work, which was purchased for £85.00 (roughly U.S. $150) in 1987 is expected to bring $15,000+.
The page, featuring the introduction of the blood-stained “happy face” badge, Rorschach’s journal and even the first un-costumed appearance of Rorschach himself, comes to auction from the collection of notorious British hard rock designer, musician, DJ and TV host Stephen “Krusher” Joule, long known for his artwork for such rock gods as Iron Maiden, Ozzy Osbourne, Black Sabbath, Motley Crue, AC/DC, Deep Purple, Robert Plant and Motorhead – including some punk luminaries like The Sex Pistols and Blondie – as well as for his longtime tenure as Art Director at Kerrang! Magazine, a longtime bible of Heavy Metal music.
“Sometime in late 1987 I was walking off an absolutely horrendous hangover on my way to work at Kerrang!, which meant that I was stumbling, mumbling and tumbling through Covent Garden,” said Joule. “As I was passing the shop where I had originally bought my Watchmen comics, I saw a poster proclaiming ‘ORIGINAL WATCHMEN ARTWORK FOR SALE.’ My hangover cure was immediate. This was the moment that I’d been waiting for all my life.”
Striding up to the door like a man on a mission, Joule asked “Where’s the Watchmen pages?”
The owner pointed to a person at the back of the shop who was picking up a portfolio.
“That man down there is looking at them,” Joule recalls being told. “I was like a greyhound out of a trap, followed closely by the owner, who was asking me ‘Is there any particular page you’re interested in?’ No sooner than the words were out of his mouth, and the man with the portfolio had just finished unzipping it, did I see a vision of beauty, the Holy Grail, Page #1, issue #1. I pointed to it and said, ‘Yes! That one!”
Even the most hardcore and irascible denizens of Metal eventually need a break from the rock and roll life, and want to be closer to their aging parents, which has led Joule to sell of this singular and important piece after more than 23 years of ownership.
“After 33 years of living in my council flat on the 15th floor of what I lovingly refer to as ‘Terror Tower,’” he said, “I want to get out of London and be closer to Ma Krusher. This should help facilitate that.”
In collector circles, original Watchmen art from the 1980s is very highly sought-after. It is, in fact, among the small handful of most important titles from the entire history of the medium. Appearances of original Watchmen art are very rare indeed, let alone the very first page of the very first book.
“Watchmen pages have proven very scarce on the open market,” said Todd Hignite, Consignment Director for Heritage, “and do not change hands very often. In fact, this is the first one Heritage has ever offered – so we couldn’t be more excited that it’s the page that kicks off the entire Alan Moore/Dave Gibbons saga. Many people who’ve never read any other comic books have read Watchmen, and given that mass appeal, we expect very strong demand for this lot.”
In fact, Joule began to realize the importance of this very page many years ago when he attended an Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons signing, where he brought this page to get the signatures of the Watchmen creators.
“When I asked (Gibbons) to sign this page he was more than willing,” said Joule, “but when he saw that it was Page #1, Issue #1, he said, ‘Bloody hell, I told the wife not to sell that one!’ Sadly for him, it was a little too late.”
Click past the cut for the color guide to Watchmen #1, page 1.
Mike Grell to speak at noon Sunday at Austin Comic-Con
Mike Grell, the famed comic-book writer/artist, will speak at noon at Austin Comic-Con as part of the “Wizard Art School” series of panels.
According to a release from Wizard, Grell will discuss his art style as well as his take on the industry.
Grell is known for his independent comic hits “Jon Sable: Freelance” and “Starslayer,” as well as classic runs on DC Comics’ “Green Arrow” and “Legion of Super-Heroes.” Grell created the hero “Warlord” for DC Comics, which ran for 13 years and inspired a toy line.
- Matt Price
Superman 14, Detective Comics 69 covers to be auctioned
Jerry Robinson with the original art for the covers of Detective Comics 69 and Superman 14
Comic Connect revealed that the original art from “Detective Comics” #69, by Jerry Robinson, and “Superman” #14, by Fred Ray, will be auctioned. The patriotic Superman cover is one of the iconic images of the Golden Age of comics. Robinson, often considered the creator or co-creator of the Joker, is the artist of “Detective Comics” #69, which includes one of his most famous images of the character. Click past the cut for the full release.
- Matt Price
The Walking Dead prints offered by The Secret Headquarters
Jordan Crane "The Walking Dead" print
The Secret Headquarters is offering four limited-edition prints to celebrate the premiere of “The Walking Dead,” based on the Image Comic by Robert Kirkman.
The four prints were designed by Jordan Crane and hand-printed by Jordan Rae; each was illustrated by a different accomplished artist (Lisa Hanawalt, Jon Vermilyea, Johnny Ryan and Jordan Crane).
The archival-quality prints measure 23 x 35 inches on acid-free 70lb. paper. Each print is limited to a run of 100 copies and will be signed by both the artist and Kirkman; single prints are $40 and the set of four is $150.
“I’m astounded by the talent involved and couldn’t be happier with how this turned out,” said Robert Kirkman, creator and writer of The Walking Dead, in a news release. “I think people are going to love these prints and I hope it brings people into The Secret Headquarters in droves because it’s a great store.”
The prints are available at The Secret Headquarters (3817 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles / 323.666.2228) or via walkingdeadprints.com.
- Matt Price
Click past the cut for all four images.
Marvel art giveaway; X-Men arcade game returns; updates on Batman, Spider-Man and Wolverine films
Win art!
Allposters.com is giving a NewsOK Comics Podcast watcher the chance to win this framed art –just comment on the video with your favorite Marvel character, and we’ll draw a winner.
X-Men Arcade game coming to consoles
An image of "Amazing Spider-Man" #50 from allposters.com.
According to Marvel.com, Konami Digital Entertainment will release the classic “X-Men” arcade game originally released in 1992 for the very first time outside of arcades. The game will be available on Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network in Fall 2010.
Spider-Man casting news
Sony has announced that Rhys Ifans (“Notting Hill”) has joined the cast of the “Spider-Man” movie reboot. He’ll play the villain in the new movie, but Sony didn’t reveal who that would be. The Wrap reported that Ifans will play The Lizard, but that hasn’t been confirmed.
Batman and Wolverine updates
Deadline reports Tom Hardy has been selected for a lead role in “Batman 3,” and Darren Aronofsky is likely clearing his plate to take a stab at directing “Wolverine 2.”
Matt Price and Kyle Roberts review Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne #5, X-Men #4, and Bruce Wayne: The Road Home one-shots — Batman and Robin, Red Robin, Batgirl and Outsiders.
