Monthly Archive: September 2010

All Pulp recognized by noted Pulp Scholar…and his wife, so noted Pulp Couple!

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  • September 8, 2010

NOW IN ALL PULP’S SPOTLIGHT…ALL PULP!!!

The Spectacled Seven have made their mark, at least with some!  This was shared with All Pulp today from a mailing list manned by noted Pulp writer and historian Tom Johnson.  Tom and his wife Ginger not only welcomed All Pulp to the Pulp/news game, but gave the Spectacled Seven quite an awesome and humbling comparison…Thanks so much, Tom and Ginger! Their endearing comments are posted below!

“Back in the late ‘70s, pulp historian Nick Carr started the Bloody 7, bringing together seven pulp fans from the community to form this new band of brothers. The 7 consisted of Nick Carr, Bob Sampson, Don Hutchison, Frank Hamilton, Earl Kussman, Jack Deveny, and Tom Johnson. Each was dedicated to the pulp community and keeping the interest in pulps alive for future generations. In June 1982, with the publication of the Special Issue of Echoes, Ginger Johnson wrote an article about the seven men. At the time we did not have the Internet, so our outlets were the many fanzines in the community. Eventually, with the passing of Bob Samson, Frank Hamilton, Earl Kussman, and Jack Deveny, and the printed fanzines, the Bloody 7 ceased to exist.

It is of interest that a new “7” has risen to replace the Bloody 7, and with the availability of the Internet, will continue to keep the pulp community informed.

Pulling its staff from across the field, All Pulp is manned by an eclectic, inspired group of seven writers and fans ready to bring their best to every word they write. Ron Fortier, Barry Reese, Sarge Portera, Derrick Ferguson, Bobby Nash, Van Plexico, and Tommy Hancock. http://allpulp.blogspot.com/

Tom and Ginger give a hearty welcome to this new group!

Tom & Ginger”

Review: ‘Matrix Reloaded’

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  • September 8, 2010

When [[[The Matrix]]] burst on to the scene in 1999, we were wowed. Not only was it visually dazzling, but it seemed like a delightful science fiction concept that made you think. The backstory seemed fascinating and viewers wanted more, which Warner Bros and the Wachowski Brothers delivered. Now we know to be careful for what we wish since the two sequels really didn’t live up to the expectations. And maybe they couldn’t since there was just enough background material conceived to make the main story plausible. The Wachowskis clearly didn’t have a sequel in mind and when asked to fabricate one or two, they had to not only top the thrill of the first, but make their imaginary realm come alive.

[[[Matrix Reloaded]]] and [[[Matrix Revolution]]] were loud, noisy affairs that really didn’t make us fall deeper in love with the characters or trippy world. In 2007, Warner Home Video collected the trio of films and released them in the then current HD-DVD and Blu-ay formats and now, the first sequel, Matrix Reloaded, is being released as a single disc.

In this installment, we delve deeper into the Matrix philosophy, gaining greater understanding of how things got so convoluted and so out of control. We open with Neo (Keanu Reeves) the acknowledge Messiah and he has been busy, freeing humans from the control of the world-dominating computers that have taken control of the ravaged planet. Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) remains his prime disciple and speaks for him in Zion, the underground city for the free humans. There’s a faction that wants a military solution to end the machine threat once and for all. Neo thinks there’s another way and sets out to prove it, complicated by the resurrected form of Agent Smith (Hugo Weaving) who is out to destroy the humans’ savior. Introduced into the mix is Niobe (Jada Pinkett-Smith), a pilot and former lover to Morpheus and they go hunting for the Keymaker, possessor of secrets.

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Gene Colan Retiring; Eisner-Winning Last Cover Up For Auction

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  • September 7, 2010

After a 65 year career in comics, the legendary Gene Colan is retiring. The cover pencils from Gene’s final issue of Captain America #601, which won the Eisner Award this year for best single comic, is now up for auction, to help fund his retirement. The cover depects the classic Cap, Steve Rogers cradling a fallen man whilst war carries on behind his heroic shoulders. And for the lucky winner on ebay, this piece will be quite the collectible.

Gene Colan’s year has been tumultuous at best. We implore you to check out the Gene Colan Benefit Auction blog to learn more about him, and the cause.

Gene is a living legend, and his art is well placed in any collectors’ hands. Head over to the ebay auction now, and bid on a piece of history. The bidding is now just above $500, but it won’t stay there.

Review: ‘Lost in Space’

I should have loved Lost in Space when it debuted on CBS in the fall of 1965. At seven, I was the prime audience for this family adventure about the Robinsons and friends who are literally, hurtling through uncharted territory. Instead, I never warmed up to the show and much preferred ABC’s [[[Batman]]] when that arrived in January 1966. I found the science fiction lacking, the acting over-the-top, and the robot one of the few interesting aspects.

I think I would have preferred the Irwin Allen series had the villainous aspect of Dr. Zachary Smith (Jonathan Harris) remained, rather than using him as a comic foil. Regardless, the series had its following which has led to various revivals as an animated series and even a Bill Mumy-scripted comic during the 1990s. A feature film adaptation seemed inevitable and that’s what we received in 1998. Now, the movie is making its blu-ray debut this week from Warner Home Video.

The film’s themes are certainly high-minded ones as they postulate that in 2058 mankind has so ruined the Earth that a new world has to be found or humanity is doomed to extinction. The Jupiter 2 is sent to find salvation complications ensue when Smith’s treachery sends them off course and they wind up on several strange, new worlds. Then you add in a field of energy that is revealed to be a time distortion bubble with an adult Will Robinson (Jared Stevens) as an antagonist, and well, things get messy.

The movie looks really smart, with over 700 visual effects and some thoughtful set and costume design. There are no real visual cues to the source material with the exception of the robot, which is probably for the best.

Instead, the film fails on two levels. The first is the script that didn’t need to drag in temporal complications while they were already lost in space. It was as if Akiva Goldsman had no faith in the one problem. He also neglected to make any of the characters really engaging or interesting, complicated by a cast that never brings the material to life. While William Hurt makes an interesting scientist in Dr. John Robinson, you never get the feeling he loves Mimi Rogers’ Maureen or is a good father to Judy (Heather Graham), Penny (Lacey Chabert) or Will (Jack Johnson). Matt LeBlanc is amiable but bland as Don West while Gary Oldman seems bored as Dr. Smith.

In reviewing the film years later, it’s interesting to note Penny was vlogging before it was fashionable. Overall, though, the Earth we’re in today is nowhere close to the trajectory seen in the movie’s 2058. Like its predecessor, it is aimed at families and has enough thrills to justify the PG-13 rating but is devoid of the quirky details that people loved in the original. Those fans, though, can look for cameos from original series stars June Lockhart, Mark Goddard, Angela Cartwright, Marta Kristen (Judy Robinson) along with the welcome tones of Dick Tufeld as the voice of the Robot.

The transfer to blu-ray is acceptable although the special features from the standard DVD are carried over without upgrading. We get the deleted scenes, along with caption explanations of what they were. There are two featurettes — “Building the Special Effects” and “The Future of Space Travel” – which are fairly dry.  “The Television Years” includes interviews with original cast members Lockhart, Kristen, and Cartwright but the original series synopses are missing. We do get the “Apollo Four Forty” music video and the original dual commentaries.

If you own the original DVD, there’s little recommend buying this outright as opposed to using Warner’s upgrade program.

Write A Song For Skultar, and You Could Die!

  • News
  • September 7, 2010

Frequent commenter and song-craftsman Russ Rogers tipped us off to a little contest he put together, and folks, it’ll slay you.

For those in-the-know (and those not…) Mark Wheatley and M.J. Butler have been toiling away at an homage to Conan and all things barbarian with their new project, Skultar the Unconquered! In viral barbarian fashion, Mark and M.J. decided on a great way to gain some much needed funding to get their bloody pet project off the ground (you did read Glenn’s article on just how much it costs to put out a book these days, did you not?). For various contributions to the project, you can get a slew of special prizes… ranging from exclusive behind the scene updates, signed Frankenstein Mobster comics, to the bigger prizes, like limited editions of the printed Skultar comic (with signed book plate!) to our personal favorite: being drawn into Skultar to be maimed, slaughtered, or otherwise killed… along with a signed death certificate and acknowledgment in the final book! Who doesn’t want to be vivisected in 4 colors by a master like Mark Wheatley? We thought so.

That brings us to Russ Rodgers, and the White Elephant Music Club! Starting today, everyone is welcome to enter the Skultar Sword and Sorcery Song Challenge! The rules are simple: Write a song, featuring lyrics about swords, sorcery, and other savage goodness. It can any genre, any style. Full band? Rock out. Solo acoustic? Folk it up. Bolivian flute and rap combo? The weirder the better. Write, record, and share your creation with the White Elephant Music Club on Facebook, and you’re entered. Want to increase your chances of winning? It’s simple: Mention Skultar in the lyrics! Sounds simple? We know. Want more points? Make some “conversion van quality” album art for your song. Submit a .jpg of your art with said song, and you’ll get some more bonus points. Want even more points? Record a music video for your song! Bam. More points. Want yet even more points, you grade grubber? Word is that if you promote your song and the contest on your own facebook / myspace / website / neighborhood juice bar… you’ll nab a bloody carcass full of bonus points! Judges for the contest will weigh your song-craft, bloody lyrical content, and add up your bonus points. The song’s are due September 24th, with the winner being announced September 30th.

For full details on the contest, do yourself a favor and click on over to the White Elephant Music Club page.

For more details on Skultar, and all of his bad-assery, click on over to his website before he smites you.

Now, all you rockin’ ComicMixers… plug that old Strat into your Marshall half stack. Hit that fuzz pedal and overdrive. Crank the volume to 11, and sing your heart out… before Skultar cuts it out from your girly chest.

Labor Day and the Cost Of Doing Business in Comics

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  • September 6, 2010

3334018589_4e9fa3a496_m-5703983Five hundred dollars.

When people talk about putting regular, old-fashioned comic books online, keep that $500 in mind.

That’s about how much it costs for an average page of comic book art, in terms of labor. Figure $100 for the writer, $150 for the penciller, $130 for the inker, $90 for the colorist, and $30 for the letterer. Those numbers go up and
down depending on talent and publishers, but that’s a nice round number for us to work with.

Let’s consider another number: 22. That’s the average page count for a monthly comic book story. It’s also the number of pages most average pencillers can produce a month. Neat coincidence.

Now start multiplying. That means a penciller will make $3300 a month, or $39,600 a year. With covers, round that up to $42 grand a year. Not a lot of cash there. And the penciller’s the highest paid talent on the book. A writer will make $2200 a month, and nobody pays him to write covers. He’ll probably have to write two books a month to make his nut. And so on.

But if you’re expecting professionals to create your comics, that’s what you’ll have to spend.

Graphic novels? From scratch? You’re looking at about 120 pages minimum– that’s $60,000 in labor costs. Unless you’re economizing and doing a lot of the work yourself, that’s going to almost insurmountable unless it’s commissioned by somebody– most writers don’t have a spare $48,000 to spend on an outside artist. This, of course, is one reason why many “literary” graphic novels are solo jobs– David Mazzuchelli, Darwyn Cooke, Alison Bechdel, Brian Fies, et cetera– because the economics simply aren’t there to support five hungry mouths.

Any proposal for getting books in print in paper– or publishing online– has to keep those numbers in mind. You either have to generate enough money to cover those upfront costs, or find some way to mitigate or reduce them.

So how would you do it? (And no, you can’t pay in Monopoly money.)

Trashing Jerry Lewis

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  • September 6, 2010

Is there a single person on the planet who could actually make me feel sorry for that walking train-wreck, Lindsay Lohan? Well, as it turns out, there is!

Just before his 60th Muscular Dystrophy Telethon this weekend, 84 year-old Jerry Lewis discussed Lindsay Lohan specifically and some of his fellow craftspeople generically on the syndicated teevee gossipfest Inside Edition. “I think they need a fucking spanking and a reprimand,” Jerry Lewis said.

Wow, Jerry. 
So you want to spank a 24 year-old woman, huh? Well, I understand a lot of old geezers feel that way.
Okay, so you’ve got a father complex. But exactly what sort of father do you want to be? One who beats his kids?

Zeroing in on Lohan, Jerry Lewis went on to rant “I’d smack her in the mouth if I saw her. I’d smack her in the mouth and be arrested for abusing a woman.” Gee, Jerry, ya think? By the way, you’d also go down for assault and battery. And probably hate crime. “I would say ‘you deserve this and nothing else.’ Whack! And then if she’s not satisfied, I’d put her over my knee and spank her.”

If she’s not satisfied?
Is that how you satisfy women, you sad pathetic has been?

Hokey smokes, Jerry! And to think Mel Gibson got his badass self in trouble while you get to go on teevee and act condescendingly toward your children.

Lohan’s got enough of her own problems, and Jerry, so do you.
 

Monday Mix-Up: ‘Comic Sans Man’

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  • September 6, 2010

The unholy melding of bad comic book superheroics and bad comic book lettering…

Never has the phrase “Will he save the world… or destroy it?” seemed so apt.

2010 Hugo Awards Winners Announced

  • News
  • September 6, 2010

hugo-1086825Kudos and congratulations are in order for the winners of this year’s Hugo Awards.  Named for “Amazing Stories” founder, Hugo Gernsback, the Hugos were awarded at this year’s WorldCon (Aussiecon 4, in Melbourne, Australia) to celebrate fine contributions for the year’s top science fiction or fantasy works. So, without further adieu, let us present this year’s winners, and offer our congratulations!

And the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer (presented by Dell Magazines): Seanan McGuire

We here at ComicMix congratulate all the winners above, and recommend you give a gander at their (now award winning!) work next time you get a touch of the wanderlust for the stars or sword.

Review: ‘Smallville Season 9’

When [[[Smallville]]] debuted on the WB network in fall 2001, it was a revelation, a serious and well-considered examination of Clark Kent coming to terms with his alien origins and super-powers in a modern context. It was a perfect fit for the teen-skewing network and apparently they hit pay dirt casting Tom Welling as Clark and surrounding him with a strong ensemble. The real secret early on was the writing staff, fronted by Jeph Loeb and Mark Verheiden, who said more with less and kept you coming back for more.

By the fourth season though, the success of the show was beyond expectations and the vamping began, coupled with the turnover of the writing staff which irreparably harmed the show. Things grew silly real fast as the iconic elements were twisted beyond recognition and the producers sought new threats and twists in the soap opera relationships. In the latter seasons, especially after creator/showrunners Al Gough and Mile Millar departed, character motivations seemingly changed weekly and storytelling logic was usually ignored.

Season eight gave us the season-long threat of Doomsday and once he was dispatched, it seemed time for something new. Maybe something familiar, a little taste of home. Executive Producers Kelly Souders, Brian Peterson, and Welling decided the time had come to bring the threat of General Zod made flesh. Callum Blue was added to the cast as the Kryptonian military officer, and former ally of Jor-El’s, to demonstrate for Clark the need to use their powers for selfless reasons.

Recognizing this was likely the final season, they chose the theme to be that of Clark embracing his alien heritage. He donned a black costume for the first time and either distanced himself from his friends and allies or relearned the lesson that he cannot act alone.

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