The Star Clipper Blog

Darkness Falls Across the Land

noreply@blogger.com (Star Clipper) — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 16:16:00 +0000

Anita Blake, eat your heart out: there's a new vampire mythos coming to life in St. Louis. Shadowland, a feature-length vampire-thriller shot entirely in the St. Louis area written and directed by native son Wyatt Weed, is baring its fangs at the Tivoli! Created by local production company Pirate Pictures and fiendishly full of recognizable local venues and talent, this scarefest will be a bite of summer fun.

So what is it like to shoot a horror film in the Gateway City? Well, it calls for a little improvisation. Director Wyatt Weed relates some anecdotes about creating the proper "look" for lead actress Caitlin McIntosh to crawl out of her stinking crypt:

"All throughout Shadowland, Caitlin spent a number of days covered with dirt. Lead make up artist Rachel Rieckenberg and her father, Joe, realized early on that they needed a steady supply of dirt that was 'clean' and consistent. They dug up some dirt and began to strain it through mesh, getting rid of any roots, rocks, or bugs. They dried it completely, ground it to a powder, then mixed it with hot water, creating a more sterile mud that was consistent and moist. Carried around in 5 gallon buckets, the dirt was on stand by to freshen up Caitlin's 'mud' look whenever needed.

"In a scene near the end of the film, Laura is thrown into a freshly dug grave in a cemetery. For the scene, several left over trash cans full of dirt were dragged from the art department truck and recycled. Once again, a plastic tarp was placed on the ground, and mounds of dirt were built up, creating a 'grave'. A mattress was placed in between the mounds so that the actors playing the 'Posse' members could toss Caitlin into the grave safely.

"Later in the shoot, a three-sided grave piece was built on a small sound stage from insulation foam, then painted and dressed with real roots. The mattress was placed in the bottom of the grave, and covered over with dirt. Caitlin stood at one end of the grave, then when the camera rolled, she jumped sideways onto the mattress.

"Cut with the scene in the graveyard, they fit together flawlessly - it looks like she's really being thrown into a grave," explains Weed.

Part action adventure, part period piece, part horror fantasy, Shadowland debuted at last year's St. Louis International Film Festival and has been accepted to over a dozen national and international film festivals. The Pirate Pictures crew shot for 30 days in and around numerous St. Louis area locales, including Webster Groves, Kirkwood, The Delmar Loop, Mt. Sinai Cemetery, Eden Seminary, and historic old St. Charles' Main Street. Think you might recognize your neighborhood in a shot or two? As if the suburbs weren't scary enough!!

Shadowland will screen from Friday, July 24th through Thursday, July 30th at Landmark's Tivoli Theatre, 6350 Delmar Blvd (in The Loop), University City, MO 63103. A DVD release is planned for the fall of 2009 too. Come on out and show your hometown love! There is no reason why every vampire story has to be set in New Orleans, people. Call the Tivoli Box Office at 314-995-6270 for more information!

Blog From Beyond Part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Star Clipper) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:36:00 +0000

Graphic novels are pretty cool, but it is my love for the single-issue comic that made me want to work at Star Clipper. While many pamphlets don’t play to the strengths of the format, I am hard pressed to find a reading experience more enjoyable that a well put together comic like Paul Pope’s “THB” or Ed Brubaker’s and Sean Phillips’s “Incognito.” If that said, here some soon-to-be released comics that will do the format proud.

“King City” by Brandon Graham

In my early days at Star Clipper, “King City” was a go to book for recommendations. Brandon Graham’s imaginative art combine with his punny wit that make him on of my favorite cartoonists. When Tokyopop decided not to print the second volume in the “King City” series, I found myself less excited about getting readers hooked into a graphic novel series that would never reach its end. Graham and Image Comics were able to convince the publisher to let King City live again as a 12-issue comic series beginning in August. The first six-issues reprint the series first volume, but Graham promises tons of all-new extras as well six issues of new material to wrap up the story.

“Criminal: The Sinners” by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips

The previous “Criminal” series done fine by Star Clipper, especially when it comes to trades, but the same creative team’s “Incognito” has been a hit. Now, “Criminal” and “Incognito” are packed with the same kind of thrills, great art, and well-executed plots yet readers have only really gotten behind the super-powered antics of “Incognito.” When the new “Criminal” arc starts, it would be cool if some of those readers made the jump to the crime series. They really don’t know what they are missing.

“Wednesday Comics” by a ton of great comic’s creators

With each progressive series, DC readers have become more and more tired of the weekly comic series. Hopefully when their newest one, http://www.dccomics.com/dcu/comics/?cm=12047 “Wednesday Comics,” hits in July they aren’t too over the concept to give the series a try. Over its twelve issue run, 16 creative teams will present 16 different features. Each one will focus on a different DC character in an accessible, out of continuity storyline. A quick look at the talent lined up to create these tales shows that it will be a top-quality series. Throw in the fact that each issue folds out the classic 14” x 20” tear sheet size, and it becomes an once-in-a-lifetime kind of project!

“Strange Tales” by even more great various comic’s creators

Like “Wednesday Comics,” Marvel’s “Strange Tales” features top creators telling out of continuity tales the company’s respective characters. While some of these top creators overlap, like Paul Pope, “Strange Tales” draws pretty exclusively form the realm of alt-comix to fill its pages. I’m expecting some pretty funny stuff like Johnny Ryan on Submariner or the long-awaited release of Peter Bagge’s “Incorrigible Hulk” story. With it’s impressive list of contributors, this three-issue miniseries looks like a book to watch when it kicks off in September.

Detective Comics by Greg Rucka, JH Williams III, and Cully Hamner

I was really tempted to make the last comic to mention the upcoming “Simpsons Treehouse of Horror” edited by Sammy Harkham, but I’ve been waiting a long time for the much rumored Batwoman project that teams writer Greg Rucka with artist JH Williams III. Williams has to be one of my favorite artists currently drawing for the big two. To make things even better, Rucka is teaming with artist Cully Hamner on a Question backup feature that is sure to bring even more thrills and suspense. Add to this how much I’ve been wanting to read some superhero comics with a good mystery lately and it becomes no surprise that this comic will jump off the shelf and into my hands.

I guess that’s it for my last blog before I roll on out for the Windy City. Now, I know all these recommendations are no substitute for me being around the store to point out all the books I think are cool but hopefully one or two of them will make it home with you out there. I am going to miss all the G’nort jokes and conversations about D-List villains that truly make writing for this blog out of sight. I’ll miss even more being around the shop on a Wednesday when all you regulars come by for your lastest fix. The staff at Star Clipper is one in a million and the customers are the best I’ve ever dealt with. You will all be missed. If you are ever in Chicago, look me up and maybe I’ll have a new comic or two to point you towards.

-Nick

Blog From Beyond Part 1

noreply@blogger.com (Star Clipper) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:54:00 +0000

And since I spaced and forgot to post a blog yesterday - everyone gets 2 posts today! Wowza! New Comics & 2 Blog Posts!?! Star Clipper is AMAZING.

As revealed in the blog post of Jon’s drawing of me as the Human Torch, my days at Star Clipper are dwindling. In the next week, I’m moving on to the Windy City. One of my favorite things about working here at Star Clipper has been connecting people if a comic or graphic novel that they end up really liking. Since I won’t be around to do that for Star Clipper’s customers and blog readers much longer, I thought I’d take the chance to leave some last recommendations. This blog I’ll cover 5-ish graphic novels to keep your eyes peeled for while in the next one, it’s all about the floppies.

“The Marquis: The Inferno” by Guy Davis

“The Marquis” is the solo effort of one of my favorite artists Guy Davis (“B.P.RD”). This period comic follows the 18th century monster hunter, the Marquis, as he fanatically hunts down some of the most twisted creatures ever to have eyes gaze upon them. Davis shows off his ability to create some of the eeriest moments in comics in this black and white volume, collecting both previously released “The Marquis: Danse Macabre” and “The Marquis: Intermezzo.” If I’m mentioning “The Marquis,” I have to give an honorable mention to the zombie black comedy, “Zombies That Ate the World,” that Davis drew for the European publisher Humanoids. The first volume of that series is scheduled to be released in July, while “The Marquis: The Inferno” is suppose to hits stores in September.

“3 Story: The Secret History of the Giant Man” by Matt Kindt

Matt Kindt isn’t just one of the nicest guys in St. Louis, he also has created some pretty awesome comics with “Super Spy” and “2 Sisters.” In September, Dark Horse will release his latest graphic novel, “3 Story.” The preview art that have I seen online for this tragic tale of the world’s largest man looks great. He has yet to disappoint, so I have a good feeling this one will deliver.

“Popeye Vol 4: Plunder Island” by E C. Segar

The first volume of Fantagraphics’ “Popeye” effort delivered E. C. Segar’s classic newspaper strip in all its glory. As much as I loved this 2006 release, I have to say that I found the subsequent volumes lost in the tidal wave of timeless strips hitting Star Clipper the last few years. Fans of “Popeye,” however, hold the “Plunder Island” storyline as one of the series crowning achievements. I’ve anxious to see if it lives up to its reputation ever since I heard about it. When it comes ashore to comic shops in July, we’ll get a chance to see!

Yotsuba &! Vol. 6 by Kiyohiko Azuma

This all-ages series has to be one of my favorite mangas. The slice-of-life adventures of the kindergarten-aged Yotsuba possess an endearing charm that makes it one of the most accessible manga series being translated into English right now. When ADV quit publishing the series, I was pretty disappointed. Luckily, Yen Press is picking up the title and in September they’ll be debuting their editions of the series along with the all new volume 6!

“Myth of 8-Opus: The Labyrinth” by Tom Scioli

Before he was drawing the cosmic epic “Godland,” Tom Scioli cut his teeth the Jack Kirby inspired “Myth of 8-Opus.” It has been five years since a new 8-Opus hit the shelves and in that time, Scioli has really grown as a creator. No longer so strictly bound by his Kirby roots, he creates some truly far out stories in that classic tradition but with his own distinct twist.

That’s all for now. I’ll return for my final blog to talk about some old fashion comics.

Nick

Don't Believe The Hype

noreply@blogger.com (Star Clipper) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:51:00 +0000

I figured I'd post Jon and Jim's scathing commentary on the Cap-fiasco as back to back posts. It not like we can sell this dog anyways...

p.s. Jon and Jim: try not to write about the same stuff...hint, hint...

Spoiler Alert - There was suppose to be a pretty big hoopla about the recent 600th issue of Captain America. Marvel Comics only informed retailers that something big was going to happen in the issue and they allowed Cap to go on sale on Monday June 15, two days before normal comics are suppose to be released. Well, the date has come and passed. Though it will likely be the biggest selling comic for Star Clipper this week, Captain America 600 didn't really live up to the hype. This is not to say it wasn't a good issue of Captain America, just it wasn't anything to rush out two days early to buy, especially if you weren't already a reader.

Since Ed Brubaker and Steve Epting began working on Captain America in 2004 and it has since been one of Marvels most popular and critically acclaimed books. The series has kept readers hooked even with the questionable resurrection of Bucky Barnes as the Winter Solider, the death of Steve Rogers, and Bucky's subsequent role as the new Captain America. However, the much lauded issue 600's major revelation was that Steve Rogers will be returning as Captain America. Though resurrections happens all the time in comics, how much death and rebirth is to much?

Steve Rogers' death was particularly significant in the world of comics because it was the first modern comic death since Flash Barry Allen (also recently reborn) that felt like the character was going to stay dead. Outside of dedicated comic readers, Captain America was best known as a symbol for the patriotic hero. This is significant because over being the comic book story of Steve Rogers, the only surviving person of the super solider experiments from WWII, people knew Cap is a emblem of America. That's why it felt like Rogers' death counted. You could kill Steve Rogers but Captain America would live on in the American mythos.

Now, Captain America is merely a comic book hero once again. His shocking, non-comic bookie assassination outside a New York City courthouse after the Marvel Civil War no longer feels like it matters. Steve Rogers' resurrection only reinforces that he is merely a spectacular fictional character. Unfortunately, the phrase "Steve Rogers will never die" is a lot less poignant and meaningful than "Captain America will never die."

-Jon

Cap Not Quite Back Yet

noreply@blogger.com (Star Clipper) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:07:00 +0000

Two weeks ago today Captain America #600 dropped. The sad thing is that it dropped with a thud. Yours truly was on duty that Monday and I have to say that the results were somewhat disappointing. Marvel had assured retailers that this was going to be HUGE, and that stores should order tons of copies, and media hype would bring people in for the early release of this special issue. The problem was that there wasn't really much media attention outside of the comic nerd world, and that Monday went by just like any other Monday. On Wednesday however, the issue started to move and I anticipate that it will eventually sell out.

Don't get me wrong, Cap #600 is a seminal issue that put the word out that Steve Rogers would come back to life and resume the mantle of the American spirit, but he didn't actually return and the issue became like a sitcom episode where characters get stuck in a freezer and reflect back on past episodes. It's a good issue, but I'm not so sure that it warranted the hype Marvel circulated about it to your neighborhood funny book retailers. It's obvious that it was something of a prelude to the Rebirth story that will bring Rogers back, which leaves me wondering where this leaves Bucky Barnes who I would have liked to see as Cap for an extended period of time. But hey, why nit-pick about such things which fan-boys are notorious for doing over fictional characters? Just enjoy the ride, I say.

What I would like to see for the return of Steve Rogers would be similar to how Marvel brought Cap back in the pages of Avengers #4 in the early 60's, frozen in a block of ice being worshiped by Eskimo's as Namor comes along and throws a temper tantrum resulting in Steve thawing out. Now that's how you bring a character back from the dead!

-Jim

Review: 20th Century Boys Volume 2

noreply@blogger.com (Star Clipper) — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 13:30:00 +0000

With Nick heading up to Chicago as I type this, it brings a tear to my eye as I post one of his last reviews...sniff.

When Viz first announced that they were bringing Naoki Urasawa’s mangas “20th Century Boys” and “Pluto” to the States, I truly thought that “20th Century Boys” was going to be the series for me. How could a sci-fi thriller starring a failed rock star with a baby strapped to his back not be better than a re-envisioning of an old “Astro Boy” storyline? After reading the first volume of each series, I surprisingly found myself favoring “Pluto’s” mystery/suspense take on classic “Astro Boy” story “The Greatest Robot in the World.” In the months that have past since the release of those initial volumes, two more books of “Pluto” have come through Star Clipper’s doors. The wait for “20th Century Boys” Volume 2 has been much longer, with it only arriving on our shelves in the last week. After devouring this second volume’s pages, it unexpectedly climbed past “Pluto” to be my favorite manga I am currently following.

“20th Century Boys” story makes some pretty big strides in its second installment. While the first volume shows early in its pages a mysterious band of heroes being celebrated at the United Nations for saving humanity, it spends the remainder of its pages on establishing Kenji’s decades old childhood friendships, a mysterious cult inexplicably tied to those friendships, and the death of one of those friends. Building off the premise established in the initial book, volume two expands on lead character Kenji into fascinating directions all while unveiling the truly grand scope of its mysteries as hinted in volume one.

Kenji had been established as a sympathetic lead in the series’ first volume. His struggles to raise his missing sister’s baby and run his family’s convenience store business made Kenji come off as equally noble and defeated. The fact that this new life is built out of the ashes of his failed childhood dreams of rock stardom doesn’t help matters. In volume two, Kenji’s interactions with childhood friend and reformed tomboy Yukiji serve to remind readers of Kenji’s change from the brave boy shown in the flashbacks to the frustrated man he is now. The questions about where Kenji is going raised by the reconnection of this old friend, along with the fleshing out of Kenji’s relationship to his absent sister, establish a pretty compelling arc for the lead. To make things even more interesting, the volume’s last pages place Kenji at the heart of the series’ mysteries.

These mysteries are expanded upon greatly in this second installment. The scope of the machinations of the cult-like organization run by the mysterious “Friend” are revealed, along with hints as to groups size and how they will execute the sinister plot. As the investigation into “Friend” and his ties to the death of Kenji’s friend Donkey move forward, Urasawa and writing accomplice Takashi Nagasaki pack enough twists and turns to keep it interesting.

While series looks to promise an epic science fiction tale, I am astonished at how well it contains these elements. Instead of overloading the readers with a ton of fantastic ideas, the creative team have decided to build the narrative around highly relatable characters all while slowly unveiling just how sci-fi the stories is going to grow. As a result, they have hit on an engaging mystery that is outstandingly well paced. I can’t wait to see what unfolds in volume three!

-Nick

Casting Call Gets The Green Light

noreply@blogger.com (Star Clipper) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 15:41:00 +0000

My favorite part about reading Wizard Magazine when I was a kid was the casting predictions for comic book movies. If I remember correctly, Wizard predicted Patrick Stewart would play Professor Charles Xavier about 10 years before it actually happened. With the Green Lantern movie on the horizon but still not cast, I wanted to get my two cents in before it was to late. Here goes:

Chris Pine as Green Lantern Hal Jordan

I know this has already been rumored, but I simply could not think of anyone better for an origin story. His portrayal of Captain Kirk in the recent Star Trek relaunch is basically the same role as Hal Jordan. They could essentially make the same exact movie, with Pine aimlessly jumping into battle and getting beat up, and I would be completely satisfied.

Bright Eyes' Conor Oberst as Green Lantern Kyle Rayner

He looks the part. Kyle Rayner is a sensitive artist just like Oberst. Plus, you would have the ever-important "rock star making his Sci-Fi acting debut element" to draw the non-comic nerd audience. My second more realistic choice would be Milo Ventimiglia from Heroes.

Anne Hathaway as Star Sapphire Carol Ferris

Carol Ferris has to be cast as a woman who is attractive but all business. There is no other actress that comes to mind faster than Anne Hathaway that fits those qualification. Plus, Chris Pine and Anne Hathaway have already acted together in Princess Diaries 2 - The Royal Engagement (I swear I didn't know that until I researched it on imdb).

Mickey Rourke as trainer Lantern Kilowog

That's right poozers, cast a better Kilowog with out doing it entirely CGI.

Finally, John Waters as Sinestro

John Waters was born to play Sinestro. Could you image his gaudy Yellow Lantern and Ring. Image John Waters saying, "In blackest day, in brightest night, Beware your fears made into light Let those who try to stop what's right, Burn like my power*... Sinestro's might!" Please, Please let it happen.

I haven't come up with anyone better then the already rumored Common to play Green Lantern John Stewart, or anyone at all for Jock Green Lantern Guy Gardner. If any one comes to mind feel free to post.

-Jon

Buffy Slays Me

noreply@blogger.com (Star Clipper) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 19:36:00 +0000

I became a Buffy the Vampire Slayer fan well after the series was over. I discovered it through my fiancee, who would watch episodes on HULU while she worked on her knitting projects. There was a finite number of episodes posted, so I broke down and found the box set for the complete series cheap on Ebay after getting hooked. I was aware of the comic series, but couldn't start on it until I had finished watching the TV series, so my fiancee and I powered through all seven seasons in about 2 months, then I dove into the season eight comic series.

I've enjoyed how what was established in the TV series has been given a comic book treatment without losing the vibe it had when Buffy was a small screen series. Through the comic series, the Buffy-verse has expanded allowing for one-shot issues like BTVS: Tales of the Vampires. It's a great Buffy comic that doesn't have Buffy and the Scooby gang in it. The story deals with a bored, video game arcade dwelling high schooler in a small town who gets off on being bitten by vampires, but soon finds himself changing once he himself becomes a blood sucker.

The great thing about this story is that it follows the recent story in the series where Harmony makes Vampires mainstream through using the media, so the public at large is aware of the vampires walking amongst them at night, but now it's not that big a deal, despite the fact that most vamps are still very dangerous.

-Jim

The Short Halloween

noreply@blogger.com (Star Clipper) — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 13:11:00 +0000

Spider-Man and Saturday Night Live, two great flavors that taste great together. This is what we get when Bill Hader and Seth Meyers from SNL get together to write a Spidey one-shot titled; Short Halloween
which is a pretty smart spoof of Batman: the Long Halloween. Mistaken identity is abound as Spidey is confused for a drunk guy wearing a Spider-Man costume who gets into a scrape in a bar with a couple of guys dressed as Doc Ock and the Green Goblin. The real Spidey is knocked out in battle, and Spidey dude passes out in the same garbage filled alley where Spider-dude's friends drag the real Spider-Man home while the guys dressed as Doc Ock and the Goblin are trying to track him down.

Meanwhile, the Spider-dude finds himself captured by a new super villain group consisting of some real C-list villains like Fumes, a misguided former vacuum repairman who manages to be the one to knock out Spidey, Gossip Girl, who is just a girl with mouths on her hands and shoulders, Haymaker, who is a big burly bearded man who's outfit is stuffed with hay, Mr. Think, the mastermind, and a loose cannon Sabretooth wannabe named Badger Teeth. The group call themselves the Furious Five, and anyone who hears this name has to crack, "like Kung-Fu Panda?" Although I think Grandmaster Flash.

So Ronnie the Spider-dude has to deal with bickering super-villains while the real Spider-Man has to deal with a bickering girlfriend and dude friends as well as angry party goers dressed as two of his arch-nemesis'. Comedic confusion ensues as both unlikely situations come to a head, and Fumes has to decide at that moment whether he really wants to be a super-villain.

This was just a one-shot issue, but I think I would enjoy a future Heder/ Meyers project.

-Jim

Screen Lantern

noreply@blogger.com (Star Clipper) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 14:19:00 +0000

Of all the comic movies yet to be made, the Green Lantern is arguable the most anticipated DC movie adaptation. Warner Bros. will be producing a Green Lantern movie for release in December 2010, but for those who just can't wait that long, check out the rather impressive fake Green Lantern Trailer above. Starring Firefly's Nathan Fillion as flyboy Hal Jordan, the fake trailer is a hodgepodge of clips from the new Star Trek movie, Fantastic Four - Rise of the Silver Surfer, and many other recent Sci-fi blockbusters. The voiceovers are a mix of a number of previous DC properties including Justice League - The New Frontier and The Batman series. Nathan Fillion officially gave the fanboy trailer a thumbs up and said on his Twitter, "I LOVE THIS. This Guy Rocks!"

You got to admit, for a fake movie trailer this looks like it could make a decent Green Lantern movie. With the 150 million dollar budget Warner Bros. are giving the GL film, let's see what they actually come up with. I just hope it looks better that the Green Lantern's previous live action performance in the never aired Justice League of America television pilot from 1997.

-Jon

Introducing the All-New Batman and Robin

noreply@blogger.com (Star Clipper) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 13:09:00 +0000

The new Batman and Robin swung into stores recently, bringing a little controversy with them. It left Jon cold, like everything that issue author Grant Morrison has written. Sales Associate Dwayne refuses to even pick up the issue but is constantly trying to trick me into spoiling the issue. Jim keeps talking about the issues Adam West meets David Lynch vibe. And me? I am a fan of any comic that’s first panel features explosions that spell out “BOOM!”

The re-teaming of the "All-Star Superman" Dynamic Duo of Morrison and artist Frank Quitely makes for some awesome comics! "Batman and Robin" #1 has thrilling action, crazy villains, and enough tinges of angst to remind readers of that Batman’s nickname is the Dark Knight. Take all of these elements, mix together with quips and breath-taking art, and you end up with the most fun I’ve had reading a Batman comic in ages.

The best part is, even with a comic filled with a new Batman, a new Robin, new villains, and heck, even a new Bat-headquarters; Morrison and Quitely craft a comic that feels timeless and accessible. The use of characters like Alfred, Commissioner Gordon, and former-Robin Dick Grayson put iconic Bat-characters front and center even if the original Caped Crusader is M.I.A. Others characters that are less familiar, like the new Robin or the villainous Circus of the Strange, are sketched out just enough that readers can grasp them.

As fun as the issue is, the specter of Bruce Wayne looms over the story. While a new Batman is just laying down his roots, all the readers have one thought on their mind: Bruce Wayne will soon return. This new era of Batman and Robin may be almost certainly temporary, but I’m going to milk its limited shelf life for everything it's worth. The teaser image above hints at what look to be some pretty exciting storylines and I’ll be there every same Bat-Time, same Bat-Channel making sure I won’t miss a beat.

You can check out a preview of the debut issue here at Ain’t It Cool News.

-Nick

Those Wacky Dark Avengers

noreply@blogger.com (Star Clipper) — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 17:06:00 +0000

When Marvel's Dark Reign event began immediately after Secret Invasion, I rolled my ideas at a comic titled
Dark Avengers. However, over the course of the last few months I've found myself enjoying reading about crazy-@#$ Norman Osborn and the Dark Reign has grown on me a little, especially Dark Avengers. the Thunderbolts have been promoted to Avenger status and have co-opted the mask identities of former, and even current Avengers like Bullseye wearing a Hawkeye costume, or Venom running around as Spider-Man. The Dark Avengers are basically a group of psychotic, murderous super-villains posing as heroes. Among the Dark Avengers ranks is the ultra powerful Sentry, who has provided the most interest for me in the series.

The dynamic between the Sentry, who constantly questions his own humanity and sanity, and Norman Osborn, who is simply trying to manipulate the Sentry for his own agenda by feeding him the whole "I know what it's like to be crazy and misunderstood, but was able to overcome it" line. This is the thing that has had me coming back to the Dark Avengers, the psychological intrigue.

In the most recent issue, Norman Osborn faces a television interview where he is confronted with the fact that he was a known super-villain who was notorious for being bat-$#%! crazy after Clint Barton, the former Hawkeye, called him out in an interview of his own. Amazingly, Osborn shrugs it off by calling Barton out as a reformed villain, and that he himself has reformed by medically coping with the crazy Green Goblin within him. It appears that only the world's super-powered population is savvy to the fact that Osborn is still evil and manipulative. The question is, how long until the big event when they try to take him down?

-Jim

Hooray for Sidoh

noreply@blogger.com (Star Clipper) — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 15:54:00 +0000

I just blogged giving a number of reasons to read the amazing manga Death Note. Since we've been blogging about odd ball characters lately, I thought I would give one more reason to read Death Note: Sidoh! The ragged Shinigami is awesomely dumb. Sidoh makes his first appearance in book 8 as a wayward god. It is revealed that Sidoh's Death Note was the one originally stolen by Ryuk and found by Light Yagami. Lazy and inattentive, Sidoh only realizes his Death Note is missing from the shinigami realm when he is about to die from not writing names in his book. His quest to recover the Death Note on earth is hilariously pathetic.

Upon coming to earth, Sidoh hardly acts like a death god and is even intimidated by psycho human detective Mello. In fact, Mello uses Sidoh as a pawn to fend off the SPK from recovering the Death Note when it is his possession in America. Sidoh dialogue during this is hysterical. While he aimlessly attempts to retrieve a Death Note under Mello's order he constantly mutters "geez, I guess this will help." Sidoh clearly would prefer to be wasting his time gambling in the shinigami realm.

Artist Takeshi Obata designed Sidoh to look like a miserable mix of a bird and insect. Also, his tattered cloak turn out to be long bat-like wings, which was a pleasant addition to his look. The character design does a great job at reinforcing his loser demeanor.

Basically, Sidoh is the shinigami equivalent of Charlie Brown. Sidoh first annoyance of the death note "Good Grief... You have to spell the person name correctly in the death note to make the death take effect, doesn't this thing come with spell check. "

-Jon

Nick Kuntz is the Human Torch

noreply@blogger.com (Star Clipper) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 13:40:00 +0000

I saved this one for last...Jon Scorfina drew Nick as the Human Torch...in a funny little scene where he seems to have lost control of his fiery nature.

On a sad note, Nick Kuntz will be leaving Star Clipper in a week and is moving to Chicago. We'll miss you, Nick!

Jim Mosley saves the world...

noreply@blogger.com (Star Clipper) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 12:34:00 +0000

I can't draw at all, so I shopped Mosley as Ampersand...savior of the Y-less world.

I hope you like it...

-b

Benatu The Watcher

noreply@blogger.com (Star Clipper) — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 13:37:00 +0000

AJ's take on your's truly...

-b

Scorfina is the Silver Surfer

noreply@blogger.com (Star Clipper) — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 12:34:00 +0000

Jim's take on Jon Scorfina:

The Silver Surfer! Er, skateboarder? No wait...

AJ is Starfire

noreply@blogger.com (Star Clipper) — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 13:57:00 +0000

First in our series of Star Clipper managers as comic book characters, comes this illustration of AJ as Starfire from Tiny Titans, courtesy of manager Nick Kuntz. Enjoy!

Holy Batman and Robin!

noreply@blogger.com (Star Clipper) — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 13:39:00 +0000

Spoiler Alert!

So Bruce Wayne is "dead", but we all know what "dead" means in comic book world. Make no mistake, he'll be back just like he returned after Bane broke his back and we were led to believe that Azrael would be the new Batman, pointy costume and all. After the events of RIP and Final Crisis, Bruce Wayne isn't actually dead, just back in time hanging out in a cave somewhere. In the meantime, everyone in the DC universe is convinced that he was burnt to a crisp by Darkseid's omega beams.

The recent Battle of the Cowl event led to Dick Grayson, former Robin turned Nightwing, donning the cowl somewhat reluctantly to fill in for Bruce Wayne, which is where we start off the all new
Batman and Robin series. Dick Grayson as Batman and Damian Wayne as Robin make for an unlikely dynamic duo, but after reading the first issue, I can dig it.

The best description I've heard so far about Batman and Robin #1 is that it's like "Adam West Batman meets Twin Peaks" which I find to be an apt description. The new villain in town seems to be able to rival the Joker in pure psychotic-ness, and has a ready made villain gimmick whereby he burns a mask on the face of his victims. The art of Frank Quietly really accentuates the writing of Morrison making the writer and artist a true dynamic duo. The two have a way of complementing one another's respective crafts in their collaborations. When they get together, something good comes out of it, like Batman and Robin.

-Jim

The New Weirdos

noreply@blogger.com (Star Clipper) — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 13:20:00 +0000

Jim just wrote about all the strange characters that exist in the Green Lantern Corps. Now that there are 5 new color corps. (not included the Sinestro Corps. or the Star Sapphires that have previously existed) there are going to be all kinds of great new weirdos in the GL universe. My personal favorite new character to be introduced as a Red Lantern is Dex-Star. This Red Lantern is a raging feline that vomits acid blood. I call his attack meow-barf-die. Artist Shane Davis who designed Dex-Star explained to newsarama that he imagined the killer kitty cat and drew him as a joke. Yet, when GL scribe Geoff Johns saw Dex-Star he thought he was brilliant and kept the character for the Final Crisis tie-in Rage of the Red Lanterns. Almost instantly Dex-Star became a huge hit. Yet, if all it takes to make a red lantern is finding a creature that possesses great rage then pull any cats tail and you could have a billion of Dex-Stars.

The next cool new lantern is Agent Orange or Larfleeze. The Orange Lantern of greed is the only one of his corp. Yet, the orange ring allows for him to produce images of the victims he kills as avatars and he consequently has a whole army at his disposal. Johns writes the character with a gollum-esqe dialogue lusting with avarice that makes him a instant classic. Agent Orange is the current focus of the Green Lantern series and his secret origin ties in to the mystery of parallax.

Finally, my favorite Yellow Lantern is Ranx the Sentient City. It is basically the Sinestro corp. equivalent of the Death Star from Star Wars. Though Ranx had a big role in the recent Sinestro Corps. War trying to destroy GL planet Mogo, it was actually created by Alan Moore and Kevin O'Neill in 1986 for the classic GL story "Tygers."

With the Black and Indigo Corps. yet to be revealed, I'm eager to see all the strange new characters to take flight in the GL universe.

-Jon

Review: George Sprott

noreply@blogger.com (Star Clipper) — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 13:09:00 +0000

"George Sprott" has to be my favorite book I've read this spring. A few months ago, I got to check a preview of the book and it was an experience so good that it made me question just what kind of books I'm buying. In the graphic novel, Cartoonist Seth takes a series of shorts, many of them created for the New York Times Magazine Funny Pages, and weaves them into a narrative about former arctic explorer and local TV personality George Sprott. Framed by the tale of the day of Sprott's death, the narrative moves in-between segments like interviews with people talking about their memories of Sprott, histories of the TV station, and moments from the lead's past. All of these parts add up to a moving story that creates a vivid portrait of not only the life of one man but the world that he lives in.

In many ways, George Sprott is a similar work to Seth's "Wimbledon Green". Both books fabricate biographies of fictional men out of a combination of interviews, histories, and short vignettes. Both of them look back fondly on the past without neglecting their subjects' warts. Both of them create vibrant sketches of characters that possess murky pasts. When all of these elements add up, the strong parallels are hard to deny.

Luckily both tone and art style make these two books quite different. "Wimbledon Green" gave us a fun, spontaneous story with energetic but rough art that perfectly matched its sketchbook origins. "George Sprott," however, is infused with an even and somber tone that truey fits the tale of a man that spends is final days napping on stage as reels of his artic adventures run for his TV viewers. The art shares this quite quality, with very finished line work that dwells on the atmospherics of the graphic novel. Even the coloring choices seem much more planned out and evocative than those found in "Wimbledon Green."

The most striking difference between these books, however, may have to do with the presentation of the books. While "Wimbledon Green" is granted a small stature and rounded corners that bring a Moleskin sketchbook to mind, "George Sprott" is given a grandiose format. It is hard not to become lost in the book's 12" x 14" pages. As intimate as the smaller "Green" pages are, the "Sprott" large landscapes drifting of ice flows and panels of blowing winds pull you into "George Sprott's" world in a way that his previous work has not. Th end result is a stunning reading experience.

-Nick

The Thousandth Post...

noreply@blogger.com (Star Clipper) — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 13:05:00 +0000

So today is a big day... Today marks the 1000th post to the Star Clipper blog. To give special meaning to this milestone, we've got a treat in store for our loyal readers - over the next few days we'll be posting pictures of the Star Clipper managers (drawn by other Star Clipper managers) as a favorite super hero.

I can't wait to see how Nick draws Jon. I've got Jim and I'm leaning towards 'The Tick' but there's no telling.

So be on the lookout...

-b

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang

noreply@blogger.com (Star Clipper) — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 13:51:00 +0000

It's been sixteen years since the release of the iconic X-Men cover of Gambit and Rogue on the brink of hardcore making out. Sixteen years of agonizing over getting the first kiss. Most couples don't wait sixteen hours anymore. For all their passion, Gambit could never kiss Rogue without risking having all his memories and energy drained from him. You gotta admit, for being such a ladies man, Gambit is pretty damn patient. That's all changed with Mike Carey's latest issue of X-Men Legacy.

This second cover shows them still in the heat of the moment. Sixteen years and we're all still asking "Will it happen? "Well, because we demanded it, at the end of the issue it happens. Gambit and Rogue finally play tonsil hockey.

You go girl, take control of those powers. Now you can french kiss all night long.

I know you continuity freaks might argue that Gambit and Rogue also kiss at the end of X-Men 41, but that was just because it was the end of the world. When the world didn't end the couple learned that that kiss was definitely not consequence free. Through all the smooching, Rogue absorbs Gambit's memories discovers his horrible past with his involvement in the mutant massacre. Then she dumps him to go out with lame Magneto clone Joseph.

What we can take away from this current kiss is that Rogue didn't drain Gambit energy and she finally has control of her powers. awe yeah!

I wonder how long it will take them to get to second base?

-Jon

The Unwritten

noreply@blogger.com (Star Clipper) — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 12:52:00 +0000

The idea of fiction becoming true in real life isn't new when it comes to stories, but it's something that is either executed well or leaves a little something to be desired. I recently picked up the first issue of DC Vertigo's the Unwritten from Mike Carey and Peter Gross and discovered a well executed fiction coming true story. Tom Taylor is the son of author Wilson Taylor who created a Harry Potter meets Narnia inspired book series whose main character is named Tommy Taylor. The real Tom Taylor has lived well off from being not just the son of the creator of a popular book property, but also sharing the name and likeness of the series' protagonist.

Tom finds himself somewhat exhausted from the various public appearances and celebrity that follows being so closely associated with a fictional character, as well as being treated as if he is in fact a fictional character. Tom also harbors a bit of resentment toward his father for putting him in this position that he has had to live with all his life, even after his fathers death. Yet, Tom still hits the tour circuit and continues to make public appearances despite the fanaticism of Tommy Taylor fans.

It's during a Tommy Con convention that a crazed fan who looks like Count Ambrosio, the main villain from the book series, appears and the line between the imagined world of the fictitious Tommy collides with the world of the real Tom. Newspapers begin to report that Tom is a fraud who only claims to be the son of Wilson Taylor sending fans into a frenzy. Tom is kidnapped by the Count Ambrosia wannabe, but as it turns out, he might not be a mere impersonator. After escaping a perilous situation, fans begin to see Tom as a messianic figure, and that Tom is really the Tommy from the books, much to the chagrin of Tom.

-Jim

Read This Series: Death Note

noreply@blogger.com (Star Clipper) — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 13:00:00 +0000

If there is one series that I would recommend that I hadn't read before working at Star Clipper but have since come to absolutely love, it would have to be Death Note. It is a easily accessible manga contained in 12 small books, which isn't as overbearing as most ongoing manga series. Death Note tells the story of a note book that kills people if you write their name in it's pages. The main plot follows the user of the Death Note Light Yagami, a young scholar student, and the super detectives L, Near and Mello who are trying to put a stop to his maniacal use of the killing device. However, Death Note almost feels like two separate stories, with story one concluding in book 7 after a startling cliffhanger and story two starting up in book 8 from the crumbled pieces of the first half. Unlike many mysteries, Death Note crescendos and climaxes in the middle of the story leaving the readers lost as to where they thought the series was going. With the individualistic interplay and methodologies between Light and the different detectives, and the unique narrative structure, I would argue Death Note is the best murder mystery to come out so far in the 21st century.

Besides the brilliant writing by Tsugumi Ohba, Death Notes other major strong point is artist Takeshi Obata. With very little action to actually draw, Obata still makes Death Note read through with a kinetic energy and intensity that makes you anxious to turn the page. Also, his character designs, especially for the shinigami death gods, are instant classics. Obata's finest moment in the series is Light's final speech in book 12, a sequence that famously made the artist physically sick to complete.

Yet, it is the allegorical subtext within Death Note that makes it stand out on the manga shelves. Death Note explores the justifications and ramifications of supporting or opposing a nationalistic death penalty. Writer Ohba doesn't choice a side and ends the saga with just as many problems in the world as before the death note even existed in it. No character comes off as a clear cut hero or villain, and you can discuss at length each character's motives and beliefs. It's a magnificent read and I guarantee will hook you after the first volume.

-Jon