Paul Pope is in the midst of making a new comic about a kid who has to fight his way through "Monstropolis," and he’s been kind enough to post a quick preview on the blog of publisher First Second, which is putting out the book.

There are two black and white preview pages — one is seen at right — that detail a small moment in the book, as the main character, Battling Boy, fights "Humbaba, the toughest monster (or maybe at least the oldest — Humbaba can be traced back to Gilgamesh; he is the guardian of the edge of a city, or the place where a forest meets the edge of a city, as you prefer)."

While Pope has often ventured into somewhat harsh territory, there’s an almost Bone-ian vibe of innocent wonder coming from these pages, but it’s far too little to judge. Here’s some of what Pope had to say about the book:

Battling Boy is the son of a god or a super hero—it is left unspecified—who comes down from the top of a mountain (or rather, from inside a cloud/UFO contraption/contrivance from above a mountain top) at this father’s behest, in order to rid a giant city from it’s plague of monsters. Hercules had his labors, Batman has his Gotham, Battling Boy has his Monstropolis.

Monstropolis is a city the size of an entire continent—and it is absolutely overrun with monsters. These are horrible, Grimm’s fairytale, Beowulf-ish monsters, awful things. Child-stealers. Plus some of the vampires and mummies and wolfmen we remember from the old black and white Hollywood horror films. Which—if you remember—aren’t very funny. And they don’t all like each other, either. Even a monster can’t stand another monster, this has been proven time and time again.

(via The Beat)

G. Willow Wilson is a fascinating person for many reasons, not the least of which is that she writes really cool comics. Her path into comics is one of the most unique in the industry, though.

Wilson was born and raised in the United States, later converted to Islam and moved to Cairo to work as a journalist. In her spare time she worked on the graphic novel Cairo, a story of magic and mythology set in Egypt’s capital city that came out from Vertigo last year.

In August, Vertigo releases the first issue of a new series by Wilson and Cairo collaborator M.K. Perker, titled Air. It features a stewardess who’s afraid of heights and becomes embroiled in a fight for a new, magical energy source.

I spoke with Wilson about the series and her upcoming memoir.

COMICMIX: When did you start working on Air, and how did the idea develop?

G. WILLOW WILSON: I started working on Air several years ago as a straight prose novel. But I stopped one chapter in and decided it had to be a comic book. After we wrapped up Cairo, Karen Berger asked me if I had any strong ideas for an ongoing monthly with a female lead character. I hemmed and hawed and pitched her a couple of mediocre things. Then I had a clandestine ‘Duh’ moment and pulled out Air. You always have a certain feeling about ideas you know are going to gel and be great, and I had that feeling about this story. Happily, so did Karen.

CMix: What were some of the inspirations for the project?

GWW: It’s the moments when you feel most trapped that true escape is possible. That’s really what this book is about. Walking into an airport as a Muslim pretty much sucks — you have to de-Islamify yourself as much as possible (I never carry a Koran on the plane with me, for instance; I always pack it in my checked bag) in order not to make security people and other passengers nervous. Yet flying is still the most magical, surreal form of travel we have. So I wanted Air to both examine this tense political atmosphere and shed it, escape from it, use it as a jumping-off point for the totally unreal.

(more…)

Not a lot happening in the comics world today as everyone finishes recuperating from Wizard World Chicago, but the comics movies news continues to snap, crackle and pop as a couple more big stars are apparently signing onto comics properties.

First, All Headline News is reporting that Rose McGowan has signed on for the lead role in a Red Sonja film. The former Mrs. Marilyn Manson will apparently need a new dye job to play the "red-haired she-devil with a sword." That and some chain mail panties.

Millenium Films and Nu Images announce that the 34-year-old actress will be starring in the new film about the mythical comic book protagonist produced by fiancé Robert Rodriguez and directed by Douglas Aarniokoski. Studio executive Avi Lerner said, "This is an amazing property and film for our company. Working with the talented Robert Rodriguez, having Rose McGowan as Red Sonja and Douglas Aarniokoski directing is a fantastic combination. We could not be happier." Red Sonja will be seen seeking vengeance against those who killed her family in the film. They are scheduled to start filming in October.

Next up, Matthew Fox seems to be leap-frogging off the relative success of based-on-a-comic-about-a-hit-man-film Wanted. Slash Film has the story that the star of Lost and Speed Racer has signed on to star in Billy Smoke, which is based on a comic that hasn’t even come out yet.

Story centers on an elite hit man who’s nearly killed during a botched job and realizes that his only way to find redemption is to rid the world of all assassins. More promising is that Billy Smoke was sparked from the brain of writer B. Clay Moore, the co-creator of Image’s excellent ongoing series Hawaiian Dick (yes, recommended). Also kicking ass is Oni Press, which has adaptations like Scott Pilgrim with Michael Cera, The Last Call and Moore’s own Hollywood spy spoof Leading Man, in the movie oven, and will publish Smoke next year.

You may remember the recent story here at ComicMix about another not-yet-released comic book from Oni Press that was already being optioned, The Return of King Doug. As always, I’m glad to see comics people doing well, but you have to start feeling a little anxious when cash is flowing willy nilly. Look how things worked out for the housing market.

The third issue of Comic Foundry, the well-received new magazine covering the comics lifestyle, is due out next week, editor Tim Leong posted on the mag’s Website.

That’s a Thursday (July 10) because, as always, those damn holidays delay comic books for a day. Here’s what’s on tap for the issue:

Blair Butler! Dash Shaw! JG Jones! Scott McCloud! Dean Haspiel! Keith Knight! Olivia Munn! Paul Pope! Mike Mignola! Mark Millar! Brian Wood! Fred Van Lente! Penny Arcade! Todd Klein!

Also, I’m pretty sure there will be two or three little items from yours truly, if all goes according to plan. I wrote a retrospective and a couple of (I hope) funny lists, so keep your eyes peeled.

Me aside, it’s a fun magazine — sort of the anti-Wizard — and is worth checking out. After all, it ran a feature on the best superhero underwear.

At right is the non-final cover, featuring Blair Butler of G4 TV.