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Review: The Unclothed Man in the 35th Century AD

  • Uncategorized
  • February 16, 2010

The Unclothed Man in the 35th Century A.D.

By Dash Shaw
Fantagraphics, September 2009, $19.99

Dash Shaw seemed to appear out of nowhere with his massive 2008 graphic novel [[[Bottomless Belly Button]]] – but, of course, for those who were paying attention, Shaw had been an up-and-comer for several years before that, regularly contributing stories to the anthology [[[Mome]]] and active online. (This is the point where most reviewers would allow the reader to quietly assume that the reviewer – all-knowing, all-seeing – is one of the few who were paying attention, but that isn’t the case here. I first heard of Shaw when [[[Bottomless]]] arrived, just like most of you. Feel free to gloat in comments if you are one of the cognoscenti.)

As usual with explosions like that, the creator had other works floating around – either just starting (like Body World, Shaw’s online graphic novel which will be published as a book later this year), or those earlier short stories (from Mome and other places) – which could, and would, be picked up for print publication. And that sudden high profile also usually leads to new work – and it did for Shaw, who wrote, directed and co-animated a series of short movies for IFC.com called “The Unclothed Man in the 35th Century A.D.”

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Happy 25th Birthday to the Breakfast Club!

  • News
  • February 16, 2010

February 15th has some fantastic birthdays. Jokers such as the late Chris Farley, Harvey Korman, and Cesar Romero. Former Fake TV Doc and current jewelry designer Jane Seymour. Cartoonist and creator of Television’s longest running cartoon (the Simpsons) Matt Groening. So Happy Birthday to all of those great people and one film that helped shape a generation. I speak of course of John Hughes’ epic teen magnum opus, The Breakfast Club.

That’s right kids. In 1985, Hughes’ released a little dramedy unto the world. Taking archetype teens (“a Jock”, “a Brain”, “a Beauty”, “a Rebel”, and “a Recluse”) and forcing them to sit in detention under the thumb of a tyrannical principal… the movie dared do what few in the ilk had ever done. It shined the light on these caricatures and gave audiences what they didn’t expect: Real teens! The Jock was buckling under the pressure of his father’s great expectations! The Brain was ready to threaten his shop teacher over a bad grade! And the Rebel? Well he was just a kid no one ever gave a chance. While Hughes’ earlier foray into teenagedom, 16 Candles, was well received, it was Breakfast Club that helped define a generation to come.

Let’s face it. No matter which kid you vibed with, The Breakfast Club represented you and your friends like no film had before it, or has since. While other teen flicks make those years out to be nothing but a mad dash to losing one’s virginity, here was a film that took time to show that sex aside, being a teen is a complicated time. I was a mere toddler when the film debuted in theaters. It’s with shame and remorse that I admit my generation cut it’s teeth on American Pie. And while Pie tried hard to capture some of Hughes’ magic, no amount of pie-boinking and Eugene Levy can match Pixie Stick and Cap N’ Crunch sandwiches and amazing dancing.

So, raise a glass and toast The Breakfast Club. It’s finally old enough to see a significant drop in it’s auto insurance rate. Kudos. Now, let’s all take a walk down memory lane…

The Original Johnson

2010 Glyph Comics Awards Nominations; ‘Original Johnson’ snags 4 nominations

  • News
  • February 15, 2010

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The Glyph Comics Awards, designed to “recognize the best in comics made
by, for, and about people of color from the preceding calendar year,”
have released the names of the comics and creators that make up their
2010 nominee slate.

We are incredibly proud that The Original Johnson
 has received four nominations in the categories of Best Artist, Best Cover, Best Male Character, and Story Of The Year.

“It’s wonderful to see Trevor Von Eeden’s life-work receive such recognition,” ComicMix editor-in-chief Mike Gold said. “He’s been working on The Original Johnson for 15 years, and we’ve been working with him for the past three. It has taken an extraordinary amount of effort to produce this book, and recognition from the Glyph awards makes every drop of it worthwhile. We are proud to be associated with Trevor and this amazingly intense work. My personal thanks and gratitude to Trevor and to all of those who have been involved in the effort.”

The awards will be presented at the East Coast Black Age of Comics Convention in Philadelphia on May 14th and 15th.

The full list of nominees:

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Comicmix Six: Lovelorn Losers and Loners

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  • February 14, 2010

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Valentine’s Day can be a lovely little holiday, can’t it? You and your sweetie exchange little trinkets of love… romantic candle lit dinners… kanoodling on the futon while you watch DVR’ed episodes of Doctor Who… you know, all that gushy stuff. But we know for some out there, the day is just another in a long line of ‘Hallmark Holidays’ meant to sap money out of fools in love. And if you don’t have a Valentine (your Mother only counts if you’re still in grade school…) well, Comicmix wants you to know you’re not alone. Here’s a few folks who think “One is the lonliest”, but deal with it anyways:

1.Ultimate Hulk – The Grey/Green (depends on the “Season” we suppose) Goliath may have have the hots for Betty… But then he started eating people, which assume was a big turn off for her. And sure, he may have a rockin’ set of abs, and can tear a tank up like tissue paper… But he’s also got serious anger management issues. He also once scaled a building yelling for Freddie Prince Jr.’s head on a platter, whilst naked. Not what we’d call a Don Juan in the least.*

2. Booster Gold – We know what you’re thinking… Cool futuristic suit. Flight. A shiny gold flying iPad 4.0 for a best friend… What’s there not to like? He’s got to be batting off the ladies with a bat! But, sadly, the DCU’s newest ‘Time Master’ is also it’s newest loner. Having to help defend the DCU’s time stream can really put a damper on a dude’s love life. And when he’s not getting pants by the Joker on a recursive loop, Booster’s biggest mission seems to be finding new ways to piss off Rip Hunter, not pitching woo to Fire.

3. Smeágol / Gollum – Middle Earth has it’s fair share of uggos, crazies, and weird dudes… But no one takes the “loner” monicker to new depths like this former Stoor-Hobbit. And hey, we admit that we sometimes have an odd ‘fondness’ for an inanimate object (we’re looking at you, fantastic replica Alan Scott Power Battery with replica ring…), but Gollum takes it to a whole new creepy level. Sorry buddy, when you’d rather leap into an active volcano to be with your ‘Valentine’ than try a round of Speed Dating at the Prancing Pony… you’re taking the term ‘dedicated bachelor’ to a new low.

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Happy Valentine’s Day from Comicmix!

  • News
  • February 14, 2010

We’re feeling extra ooey-gooey today. In celebration of this love-filled day, we wish you and your better half have a lovely St. Valentine’s day. May your love be like those who taught us how to love.

To Peter and Mary Jane, for those non-Mephisto years…

To Lois and Clark, for Superman I and II, the Donner cut.

To Reed and Sue, when Reed isn’t tweaking the ultimate nulifier.

To Ollie and Dinah, when Ollie isn’t firing his arrow elsewhere…

To Sue and Ralph, til death do they part. Wait. Eww…

To Scott and Jean, because face it, Wolverine didn’t stand a chance.

To Mark Grayson and Eve, for still being cute.

To Bruce and Talia, or Selina if Talia’s not paying attention.

To Steve and Sharon, time bullets be damned.

To Tony and Pepper, we know it didn’t happen in the comics, but… c’mon already!

To you Comicmix fans… for always being there to comment to us when we’re blue…

And… to my own Valentine… Kathy ‘Zatanna’ Fishman… For making me the luckiest Unshaven Comic around. Love you sweetie!

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Chris Nolan to Assist Superman Reboot

  • Uncategorized
  • February 13, 2010

superman-emblem2-8049760According to sources at Deadline Hollywood, Chris Nolan, director of Batman Begins, and The Dark Knight, has been tapped by Warner Brothers to “Godfather” the reboot of the Superman franchise. While it’s known now that Nolan, his brother Jonah, and David Goyer are presently working on the script for their next Batman film… Warner Brothers appears to want Nolan to help guide the next Superman film for the studio, to help bring back the fans that exited after Bryan Singer’s Donner-esque Superman Returns. Nolan is thought to be able to help give birth to a darker (“more mature”) version to DC’s flagship character for the big screen.

Warner Brothers wants a fresh take on the Kryptonian super star, hopefully shedding the production nightmares attached like a yoke on the neck of the franchise as a whole. Lest us nerds forget Kevin Smith’s penned draft featuring giant spiders, and a Jay and Silent Bob cameo… to the countless other scripts that turned up on the internet prior to Singer’s Returns, which ranged from the insanely bad to completely ludicrous. It’s hoped that Nolan, who brought the Bat-franchise out of the land of nipples and neon, can lend his hand to crafting a Superman movie that draws from the comics in the same way his Batman did from books like Frank Miller’s Year One, and Alan Moore’s Killing Joke.

But, is all this movement for nothing? According to attorney Marc Toberoff (representing the families of Superman’s creators Siegel and Schuster) the rights to Big Blue will come back to the families in 2013. This puts a stigma on DC and the WB to get production moving by 2011, or they may be forced to come crawling to the families to get the license back. And with Nolan currently putting the finishing touches on his newest non-comic flick, Inception, and the aforementioned third Batman film to be directed…it seems like his dance card is filling up fast.

So, let’s turn it out towards you Comicmix fans. What do you want to see in a Superman movie reboot? What books should Nolan be using for inspiration? Is it time for a new franchise villain to debut? Let us know what you think below!

Saturday Morning Cartoons: Thundercats trip the @#%# out.

  • News
  • February 13, 2010

Thundercats
is one of those shows I like to sit back and think fondly of… but then I watch it as an adult (well, as much of adult as I can be…) and folks? It makes me wonder what the #$% I was on as a child. Case in point? The clip posted below should suffice as my evidence.

I wanted to say this clip was somehow augmented by silly youtube comedians. I wanted, so badly, for this to have been some amazing fan-dub joke. But no, my friends… this is just a clip. From the show. Unedited. Raw. There’s nothing else left to say other than press play, and get ready to ask yourself what the writers were on when they penned this magnum opus:

Batman needs a new writer… YOU!

  • News
  • February 13, 2010

OK, we don’t know what Grant really thinks. But it’s fun to pretend, isn’t it? Here you go kids… Your big shot to impress the big shots over at DC. A chance to put the words right in Bat’s big, square pie hole. Just type to your hearts content, and create your master piece.

Build your own Bat-comic right here.

And after you make the perfect panel? Why, do us a favor, comment below with a link.

Akira Director(s) Set, and More!

  • Uncategorized
  • February 13, 2010

Howdy ya’ll. Seems I left the ole’ computer on, whilst I was doing my dishes… and wouldn’t you know it? While I was elbow deep in last night’s meatloaf pan, a smattering of windows were sitting on my desktop, collecting dust. Dust be damned! Being that I’m the generous sort, how about I share em’ all with you:

Thanks goes out to ICv2, Superherohype, iO9, and the comic-nerd-geek-bloggosphere for the assist!

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