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Dave Cockrum estate donates comics to Newark Beth Israel Children’s Hospital

  • News
  • February 22, 2010

dave-cockrum-9145621Kars4Kids, the national
car-donation program that benefits children, and Newark Beth Israel
Children’s Hospital in Newark, NJ, distributed a generous,
unique donation from the estate of Dave Cockrum, co-creator of Marvel
Comics’ popular X-Men series. The donated comics were part of Cockrum’s
personal collection.

“My husband loved to help people—he was
generous to a fault,” said Paty Cockrum, widow of the popular artist
and creator who died in 2006 from complications resulting from
diabetes. “Dave was extremely happy that the characters he created—such
as Storm, Colossus and Nightcrawler—became a part of the childhood
memories of millions of children. He knew that was his legacy. Dave was
also an avid comic book collector. I’m delighted that kids in need will
benefit from his personal collection.”

The comics were given
out on February 19 to children who
are hospitalized.

Kars4Kids
is a national organization providing for the spiritual, emotional and
practical needs of children from impoverished or dysfunctional
families. The national, 501(c)3, non-profit organization was
established in 2000.

Hat tip (and happy birthday!) to Clifford Meth.

‘World War 3 Illustrated’ Event at SOHO Gallery for Digital Art

  • Uncategorized
  • February 22, 2010

lousy-teacher-s-jimenez-sm-9174998The SOHO Gallery for Digital Art in New York City will be hosting a celebration the publication of the new issue of World War 3 Illustrated, with live performances by contributors at 138 Sullivan St. New York, NY 10012 this Friday, February 26, from 8pm-11 pm.

Art Quality prints of the Artists’ work will be on sale at reasonable prices.

World War 3 Illustrated, the Independent Comic Book Anthology Magazine Is Now in Its Fourth Decade of Publication. World War 3 Illustrated presents the “What We Want” comic issue! This latest 128-page anthology uses the power of comic books to ask for something radical: real proposals for building a better society.

What’s in this issue:
While the ’08 Presidential election is viewed by many of us in America as a turning point, it is uncertain what the ultimate outcome will be. The nation remains distressed, economically and ecologically in the aftermath of 28 years of right wing dominance in politics. World War 3 Illustrated asked that artists do more than just criticize things as they are: World War 3 Illustrated is responding with 128 pages of answers from comic book artists; exploring alternatives, making proposals for progress and offering ideas for a better world for all.

Featuring the work of: Seth Tobocman, Sabrina Jones, Jennifer Camper, Rebecca Migdal, Paula Hewitt Amram, Susan Simensky Bietila, Carlo Quispe, Sandy Jimenez, FLY, Melissa Jameson, Colin Matthes, Eric Hadley, Jack Laughner, Erik Ruin, Ethan Heitner, Kate Evans, Katie Fricas, Michael Hew, Sabin Calvert, Zeph Fishlyn, Sylvan Migdal.

Reviewers, Press Inquiries Please Contact: Communications, World War 3 Illustrated Magazine
Email: worldwar3illustrated@gmail.com

jl-crisis-bd-3dskew-42-3085184

Review: ‘Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths’

jl-crisis-bd-3dskew-42-3085184DC Comics brought the notion of parallel universes to comics, beginning with the classic “[[[Flash of Two Worlds]]]” and then began the annual team-ups between the Justice League of America and the Justice Society of America. Since then, the inhabitants of Earth -3, the Crime Syndicate of America, have been interpreted and reinterpreted with regularity. As a result, they have remained a popular aspect of the multiverse and certainly ripe for use in animation.

[[[Justice League: Crisis on Two Worlds]]] brings us a brand new take on the CSA, using Grant Morrison’s [[[JLA: Earth-2]]] graphic novel as a launching pad and going in a brand new direction.  The original animated feature goes on sale this month in a variety of formats from Warner Premiere and Warner Home Video. With a script from veteran comics and animation writer Dwayne McDuffie, the story posits an early version of the JLA with a limited membership. We open as they are still building their satellite headquarters only to have their work interrupted by the arrival of the parallel universe Lex Luthor.

On his world, the CSA has effectively taken control of the world, dividing it in six sections with each member exerting control through ten super-powered “made men”. Luthor and the Jester were the last of the metahuman resistance but the Joker-doppelganger sacrifices himself, taking their version of the Martian Manhunter with him, to allow Luthor to escape.

The JLA argues whether or not their mission should include other realties and when Batman is outvoted, he remains behind to oversee construction. The others cross the barrier and the action begins, rarely letting up. Overall, it’s a swift story that’s very entertaining with some playful touches including Slade Wilson as Earth-2’s US President. We see many “evil” versions of familiar JLAers in addition to the addition of new heroes to the JLA, so we get to watch the growth of the World’s Greatest Super-Heroes.

It’s far from perfect including my dislike for the character designs. Each of the Warner Premier videos is stand-alone and that seems to mean they are forced to reimagine how the heroes appear. This time, they’re a little too lean, too angular to appear as powerful as they should be, notably Superman. While a stellar alignment of voices is used, most feel miscast or bad matches to the characters designed. For me, the best characterization, dialogue and voice work are seen in Superwoman, performed by Gina Torres.

The overall threat, put into place by Owlman, has a poor rationale while the resolution leaves huge dangling threads. It’s a good effort, overall, but also not WP’s strongest offering.

(more…)

The Point Radio: Is That James Woods I Hear?

  • Uncategorized
  • February 22, 2010

We are back (finally) from Toy Fair with some verbal tours of the visual fun, plus DC’s newest direct to DVD feature (JUSTICE LEAGUE:CRISIS ON TWO EARTHS) hits this week and actor James Woods tells us about life as OWLMAN and William Shatner turns to s*it – really.


PRESS THE BUTTON to Get The Point!

And be sure to stay on The Point via iTunes - ComicMix, RSS, MyPodcast.Com or Podbean!

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IMPORTANT NOTE: Next week we will have just one (big) broadcast – direct from TOY FAIR 2010! Look for us mid-week right here!

Don’t forget that you can now enjoy THE POINT 24 hours a Day – 7 Days a week!. Updates on all parts of pop culture, special programming by some of your favorite personalities and the biggest variety of contemporary music on the net – plus there is a great round of new programs on the air including classic radio each night at 12mid (Eastern) on RETRO RADIO COMICMIX’s Mark Wheatley hitting the FREQUENCY every Saturday ay 9pm and even the Editor-In-Chief of COMICMIX, Mike Gold, with his daily WEIRD SCENES and two full hours of insanity every Sunday (7pm ET) with WEIRD SOUNDS!

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN LIVE FOR FREE or go to GetThePointRadio for more including a connection for mobile phones including iPhone & Blackberrys

 

 

Keith Knight Leaves Salon, Invades Google

  • News
  • February 22, 2010

Keith Knight will be at the GooglePlex in Mountain View, CA today at 11 AM. Keef will be showing his world famous slideshow consisting of his favorite and controversial Knight Life, (th)ink and K Chronicle comic strips.

Which is also as good a place as any to mention that The K Chronicles website has be revamped. Visitors can now comment, purchase prints and more. Coming soon will be access to the full archive of both strips, along with multi-page stories and strips going back to Knight’s college days.

You may have to go there now to read the strip, because after more than a decade of posting on Salon.com, the K Chronicles follows Carol Lay’s Story Minute in leaving the popular website. From Knight: “It was made clear to me that keeping the strip on the site wasn’t a priority. I thank Salon for the exposure.”

2009 Stoker Nominees Announced

  • News
  • February 21, 2010

The Horror Writers Association has announced the nominees for the 2009 Bram Stoker Award, honoring superior achievement in horror literature:

SUPERIOR ACHIEVEMENT IN A NOVEL

SUPERIOR ACHIEVEMENT IN A FIRST NOVEL

  • Breathers by S. G. Browne (Broadway Books)
  • Solomon’s Grave by Daniel G. Keohane (Dragon Moon Press)
  • Damnable by Hank Schwaeble (Jove)
  • The Little Sleep by Paul Tremblay (Henry Holt)

SUPERIOR ACHIEVEMENT IN LONG FICTION

  • “Dreaming Robot Monster” by Mort Castle (Mighty Unclean)
  • The Hunger of Empty Vessels by Scott Edelman (Bad Moon Books)
  • The Lucid Dreaming by Lisa Morton (Bad Moon Books)
  • Doc Good’s Traveling Show by Gene O’Neill (Bad Moon Books)

SUPERIOR ACHIEVEMENT IN SHORT FICTION

  • “Keeping Watch” by Nate Kenyon (Monstrous: 20 Tales of Giant Creature Terror)
  • “The Crossing of Aldo Ray” by Weston Ochse (The Dead That Walk)
  • “In the Porches of My Ears” by Norman Prentiss (Postscripts #18)
  • “The Night Nurse” by Harry Shannon (Horror Drive-in)

SUPERIOR ACHIEVEMENT IN FICTION COLLECTION

  • Martyrs and Monsters by Robert Dunbar (DarkHart Press)
  • Got to Kill Them All and Other Stories by Dennis Etchison (Cemetery Dance)
  • A Taste of Tenderloin by Gene O’Neill (Apex Book Company)
  • In the Closet, Under the Bed by Lee Thomas (Dark Scribe Press)

SUPERIOR ACHIEVEMENT IN ANTHOLOGY (EDITING)

  • He is Legend: An Anthology Celebrating Richard Matheson edited by Christopher Conlon (Gauntlet Press)
  • Lovecraft Unbound edited by Ellen Datlow (Dark Horse Books)
  • Poe edited by Ellen Datlow (Solaris) [See SF Signal review]
  • Midnight Walk edited by Lisa Morton (Darkhouse Publishing)

SUPERIOR ACHIEVEMENT IN NONFICTION

  • Writers Workshop of Horror by Michael Knost (Woodland Press)
  • Cinema Knife Fight by L. L. Soares and Michael Arruda (Fearzone)
  • The Stephen King Illustrated Companion by Bev Vincent (Fall River Press)
  • Stephen King: The Non-fiction by Rocky Wood and Justin Brook (Cemetery Dance)

SUPERIOR ACHIEVEMENT IN POETRY COLLECTION

  • Double Visions by Bruce Boston (Dark Regions)
  • North Left of Earth by Bruce Boston (Sam’s Dot)
  • Barfodder by Rain Graves (Cemetery Dance)
  • Chimeric Machines by Lucy A. Snyder (Creative Guy Publishing)

Congratulations to all the nominees!

UPDATED: And a belated hat tip to John DeNardo at SFSignal, who took the time to format the list of nominees and which we dropped in here. Thank you!

Massive Lightsaber Duel in… a mall in Bristol?

  • News
  • February 21, 2010

While many normal people were in a mall last weekend getting presents for their loved ones, a lot of other people in Cabot Circus in Bristol, UK had other ideas…

Refresh my memory– is Jedi an officially recognized religion in Great Britain?

Saturday Morning Cartoons: He-Man Says Drugs Are Great!

  • News
  • February 20, 2010

He-Man, our beloved adventurer has taught me too many lessons to count. It’s thanks his tireless efforts, I now drink milk, get regular exercise, and visit my dentist two times a year. But apparently, I’ve been doing it all wrong. All this time, I could have been selling my body to get wonderful drugs! Wonderful new drugs! 

Next thing you know, you’ll be telling me that I should not use my outdoor voice outdoors. Or maybe I should chew with my mouth open!? Maybe I should eat nothing but candy and treats? I’m so conflicted now! Well, I guess maybe you folks can help me. Watch the clip below, and let me know where I got it all wrong.

SFWA announces 2009 Nebula, Bradbury, and Norton Award nominees

  • News
  • February 19, 2010

The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America have announced the nominees for the 2009 Nebula Awards.
The Nebula Awards are voted on, and presented by, active members of SFWA. The awards will be announced at the Nebula Awards Banquet
the evening of May 15 at the Hilton Cocoa Beach Oceanfront, just 20
minutes from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Other awards to be
presented are the Andre Norton Award for
Excellence in Science Fiction or Fantasy for Young Adults, the Bradbury
Award for excellence in screenwriting and the Solstice Award for
outstanding contribution to the field.

Congratulations to all the nominees.

Short Story

Novelette

Novella

Novel

  • The Windup Girl, Paolo Bacigalupi (Nightshade, Sep09)
  • The Love We Share Without Knowing, Christopher Barzak (Bantam, Nov08)
  • Flesh and Fire, Laura Anne Gilman (Pocket, Oct09)
  • The City & The City, China Miéville (Del Rey, May09)
  • Boneshaker, Cherie Priest (Tor, Sep09)
  • Finch, Jeff VanderMeer (Underland Press, Oct09)

Bradbury Award

  • Star Trek, JJ Abrams (Paramount, May09)
  • District 9, Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell (Tri-Star, Aug09)
  • Avatar, James Cameron (Fox, Dec 09)
  • Moon, Duncan Jones and Nathan Parker (Sony, Jun09)
  • Up, Bob Peterson and Pete Docter (Disney/Pixar, May09)
  • Coraline, Henry Selick (Laika/Focus Feb09)

Andre Norton Award for Young Adult Science Fiction and Fantasy

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