Cosmic Treadmill: 'Calamitous Black Devils' Questions with Joseph Schmalke at FORCES OF GEEK

Forces of Geek caught up with some amazing creators at the recent Rhode Island Comic Con, and one of our favorite books from ComiXology Submit was there!

Today we talk with Joseph Schmalke about Kickstarter secrets, his classic influences and the many reasons you should check out Calamitous Black Devils on ComiXology or wait for the trade in May of next year.

Forces of Geek!: Thanks for taking the time to talk to us today. How was your Rhode Island Comic Con?

Joseph Schmalke: Rhode Island was a lot fun it had a great crowd.  Also Rhode Island was one of the better set up conventions I had been to this year.  I’m definitely going back. 

Your book Calamitous Black Devils, issues #1 and # 2 are out now. There’s a ton going on in the book from war to zombies, magic and zombies! How can you describe the book to new readers?

It’s a World War II story where an elite brigade of army operatives go behind enemy lines to stop the Nazis from opening a doorway to another world where an ancient god lives that can raise an army of the dead.  They succeed in stopping the doorway from opening but get sucked into it and find themselves scattered about a planet at the center of the universe.  Now they have to find each other to get home but first they have to battle through hordes of the undead, aliens, mutants, and ancient gods.

Plus it’s got plant human hybrids, space vampires, werewolves, and Nazi zombies.

[READ MORE AT FORCES OF GEEK]

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Cosmic Treadmill - 'ACTION PRESIDENTS' #1 with RYAN DUNLAVEY and FRED VAN LENTE at FORCES OF GEEK

While some might be inclined to be tongue-in-cheek about learning and American History, I am not!  I am unapologetically a nerd about the words of our forefathers.  What better way to celebrate and honor Veteran’s Day this week than to pay tribute to the ultimate veteran himself, the first President George Washington in the bombastic comic book stylings of our friends Ryan Dunlavey and Fred Van Lente (Action Philosophers!, Comic Book History of Comics).

These gentlemen were kind enough to give us a preview of their new series, Action Presidents! and Ryan joins us to tell us how the book got going!

The inimitable style and humor of Action Presidents is the first Evil Twin Comics venture to be released as a digital first and was originally commissioned by the nonprofit Reading with Pictures organization that advocates the use of comics and comic book storytelling to promote literacy. How many of us got excited about reading with Archie or The Avengers as a kid?

Consider reading up about what RWP is up to, especially if your child has trouble with traditional books.

Action Presidents: Washington will be released on Wednesday, November 13th on ComiXology. Ryan’s cartooning paired with Fred’s well research and oftentimes hilarious writing educates children of all ages about our first President and even Washington’s definition of ‘freedom’ which may surprise you!

There’s even a panel on the last page that references “Spider-Man No More!”.

What more can you ask for out of a text book, really?

[READ MORE AT FORCES OF GEEK]

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Comic Writer VITO DELSANTE Discusses 'STRAY' and 'WORLD WAR MOB' at FORCES OF GEEK

Forces of Geek’s Cosmic Treadmill talks to writer Vito Delsante about hisupcoming projects, including the Kickstarter book Stray and next year’s gangster war storyWorld War Mob. 

The Stray campaign is in the final stretch, so check out the video there and see Vito and Sean’s amazing superhero comic concept and consider becoming a backer in these last days of the campaign!

Vito took some time out his busy schedule to discuss the Kickstarter, his upcoming work and his plans for conquering the comics industry in 2014.

FOG!: Vito - thanks so much for joining us today. And congrats on your Kickstarter reaching its goal! How has the comic book community reacted to Stray?

VD: That’s hard to say. I mean, it’s a creator owned book that’s not endorsed by Image Comics, so no one really knows about it. Those that do, however, seem to be behind it 100%. Maybe more.

The character designs are amazing; how did you hook up with Sean Izaakse for Stray?

I had been “watching” him on DeviantArt, this site for artists of all different disciplines, for a bit, and was a fan of his designs.  

Doberman & Rottweiler created by Vito Delsante and Sean Izaakse

Eventually, I commissioned him to do a character of mine, which ended up being for Project: Rooftop. And…we kept on talking.

'DAREDEVIL: SEASON ONE' Gets A Turn on The Cosmic Treadmill at FORCES OF GEEK

Reboots, retellings and new number ones…we’re all familiar with how the world of fiction works these days, and the Man Without Fear is not immune to such trends.

Last year’s Season One initiative gave us a retelling of Matt Murdock’s origin, placing him in the modern day.

Daredevil readers lamented at the announcement last week that Mark Waid’s acclaimed and Eisner award winning run on the book would be ending at issue #38 in February. The confusing part is that Marvel is not outright saying Waid won’t be involved in the crimson crusader’s Marvel NOW! readjusting in the future, just that this volume is ending.

Daredevil Season One hardcover combines the Antony Johnston and Wellington Alves one shot origin with the first issue of Mark Waid’s run to give the world a great introduction to the first superhero Ben Affleck starred as on screen.

Daredevil has always been a favorite of mine, since the days of staring up at Mylar covered books on the wall in my comic shop (“$35! Who has that kind of money”).

The yellow and brown suit was unfamiliar to me, but I knew Matt Murdock by way of John Romita Jr. and Ann Nocenti. I knew of a legendary Frank Miller run in the past, and liked everything there was about the hero, Elektra and his rogue gallery.

Miller and Bill Sienkiewicz’ 1990 Daredevil: Love and War remains one of my favorites to this day.

I am one of those that quasi-stands up for 2003’s Daredevil film, a costumed superhero movie set in the Marvel Universe after the debut of an amazing X-Men movie but before our standards were raised by Iron Man in 2008.

Sure the film has it’s flaws but our new Batman stood out as an honest and strong Matt Murdock facing down the overacting of Colin Farrell as a scarred Bullseye.

Marvel chose the right creative teams to re-introduce this complex character in this Season One graphic novel, (also available digitally, for the curious and tablet ready). 

Writer Antony Johnston worked on a Shadowland Daredevil arc with Andy Diggle, and is well known for his acclaimed Wasteland series from Oni Press. Underexposed Marvel artist Wellington Alves (Nova, Anita Blake) draws in a dynamic and consistent Marvel house style, with great action and storytelling, and most importantly makes DD swing through the city while looking cool!

 

Johnston and Alves previously spent some time together in Daredevil’s Hell’s Kitchen for 2010’s Shadowland: Blood on the Streets mini-series starring Misty Knight,The Shroud, Silver Sable and Paladin.

[READ MORE AT FORCES OF GEEK] 

REX, ZOMBIE KILLER Takes a Walk on The Cosmic Treadmill AT FORCES OF GEEK

Can’t share in the joy that is the return of The Walking Dead to TV this season with your son or daughter?

Don’t worry, Rex, Zombie Killer has your undead all ages comics needs fulfilled!

Taking cues from We3, Lockjaw and the Pet Avengers as well as Kirkman’s zombie opus, Rob Anderson (Comics Experience) and Dafu Yu (Bluewater, Zenoscope) take zombie hunting to the woods with a small gang of animals that are led by Golden Retriever Rex and Gorilla Kenji.

Issue #1 (of 4) ships next week, October 30 from Big Dog Ink.

Rotters are crowding the landscape, and for the humans, communique with Washington has been cut off! Our heroes Rex and Kenji, the gorilla with a baseball bat are on a mission to find Rex’ human, a vet being held against her will in a fenced in science facility on the edge of a mountain in Nevada. The pets are in California, making the reverse liberation trek, following their noses and instincts!

[READ MORE at FORCES OF GEEK]

Cosmic Treadmill: CODE MONEY SAVE WORLD NYCC Panel With Greg Pak and Jonathan Coulton

College friends Grek Pak (Action Comics, Planet Hulk, Eternal Warrior) and Internet famous musician Jonathan Coulton held a panel at New York Comic Con to explain to the world that needs saving about the wildly successful Kickstarter comic based on ten of JoCo’s most popular songs, themes and lyrical insanity.

As so many legends go these days, “It all started with a tweet”.

Issue #1 of Code Monkey Save World  (MonkeyBrain Comics) is available on ComiXology on Wednesday, October 16. 

Greg Pak stood at the panel with sculptor and comic book artist Sean Chen, JoCo’s assistant Drew Westphal aka Scarface and Jonathan Coulton to his left. Upcoming covers for the debut four issues of Code Monkey Save World were revealed to an audience of JoCo and Greg Pak fans. The amazingly talented series artist Takeshi Miyazawa (Ultimate Comics Spider-Man, Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane) was not in attendance

 [READ MORE at FORCES OF GEEK]

Costumes

80sTees.com, Inc.

Cosmic Treadmill: BAD KARMA V. 1 Arrives From Creators Alex Grecian, Jeremy Haun, B. Clay Moore & Seth Peck - FORCES OF GEEK

Bad Karma is a new hardcover anthology comic spanning multiple genres but maintaining a common thread throughout the stories.

Some stories come in comic form, others in prose, and an all star lineup of pinup artists make this Kickstarter creator owned book a varied and engaging read from top comics talent.

The book was conceived and assembled by FOG! favorite creator, B. Clay Moore (JSA Liberty Files, Hawaiian Dick) and nearly double its Kickstarter goal at launch.

The first volume of this anthology series starts off with Alfred Tennyson’s sonnet The Kraken and a collaborative story, The 9th Life of Solomon Kane.

The four main writers for the book, including artist Jeremy Haun (Batman, Darkness) introduce us to this new universe though the eyes of one of our heroes, Solomon Kane. We’re treated to a Western combined with all of the time travel and intrigue of a Doctor Whoepisode and of course a visit from the mystical sea beast. 

The first chapter of the Solomon Kane tale leaves you guessing about important questions, like how can he at once be in feudal Japan and the next moment in the old West or washing ashore. Clearly there is a crack in the time stream and multiple versions of Kane exist. Huan’s storytelling and artistry are a standout for me in this book, a clean line reminiscent of contemporary Joe Eisma’s work.

The next chapter of comics in the book is written by Seth Peck and drawn by Andy MacDonald for his story starring an intriguing force of nature known as Chaos Agent.


The bald man in a blue suit is as much an action hero modeled after Jason Statham as he is a supernatural being, rivaling the mystical powers of someone like Constantine. The Chaos Agent is on our world as a representative of the force of Chaos and this story shows how he does so. This is a cool character, worthy of his own world building if not a series himself!

We move on to Seth Peck’s Hellbent, a supernatural noir tale set around the time of Jack The Ripper.

Starring a crooked cop and some thugs, we see how the bruiser reacts when faced with the dark forces of dormant tentacle monsters roaming the streets of London!

[READ MORE at FORCESOFGEEK.COM]

Cosmic Treadmill: FORCES OF GEEK! Chats With Comic Writer MARK BERTOLINI

Independent comic writer Mark Bertolini shared his recent ComiXology Submit graphic novel Long Gone and its take on superheroes gone bad.

Not only is that a favorite topic around here at The Cosmic Treadmill and Triple Shot, but we also talk about the comic market and some very cool upcoming projects coming our way from his lair in Ontario. 

Mark, thanks for joining us today here at Forces of Geek!  We first heard of you while flipping the virtual spinner rack at ComiXology for your creator owned, Broken through ComiXology Submit.  You have a few books up on the store—how has it been actually submitting your comics from a creator’s perspective? What is your relationship with 215 Ink?

I have a great relationship with 215 Ink. They’re an incredibly supportive publisher, and always have an ear open for me. I’m very happy with how things work, because I don’t have to do the behind-the-scenes work. I get to create, and 215 does the business work. I haven’t submitted any of my own work to Comixology, the publisher handles all of that for me, which I appreciate immensely. All the books on the site are courtesy of 215 Ink’s hard work.

We loved the story in Broken, a twist on the Batman origin in a way, plus playing with some other tropes in comics. How did fans react to the book?

There has been some pretty great feedback about Broken.

Now, most of that feedback was about how brutal and depressing the story was, but I consider that good. People who read Broken really picked up on the Batman theme, and how I was able to adapt it into something new-ish.

Also, there was a ton of praise about Allen Byrns’ work. Allen’s a genius, and this first issue really demonstrates that.

[READ MORE AT FORCES OF GEEK!]

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Cosmic Treadmill: A Look At JUPITER'S LEGACY Part 1 (Issues 1-3) at FORCES OF GEEK

The Authority’s Mark Millar and Frank Quitely have teamed up again to dissect the superhero genre as well as the American family and economy in Jupiter’s Legacy.

Issue #3 of the ten issue series drops on Wednesday, September 25 from Image Comics.

This edition of Cosmic Treadmill takes a look at the first act of Millar’s unusually lengthy mini-series that dips into the Golden Age of comics at the same time it looks at the present and how comic heroes might act under present conditions.

Back in April, I presented this review of issue one.

I wasn’t that thrilled with what the first issue of Jupiter’s Legacy had to offer, in fact I had some harsh criticisms about the introduction of Chloe and her drug overdose at the end of the issue. After reading some interviews with Mr. Millar and reading the next two issues, I still stand by what I said about this being a tough introduction to the storyline, but found more to enjoy from the story after reading issues #2 and #3. 

Before delving into the plot points and sophisticated deconstruction of the genre we’re shown in the book, let’s note the artwork. We all know Frank Quitely beautifully renders clothing and costumes in a realistic way, and in an expansion of his talents, Jupiter’s Legacy gives us a wide-screen view of some sophisticated scenery and fight scenes with effortless detail, complex backgrounds and even a bit of gore.

Pacing throughout the books, with Millar’s trademark huge beat cliffhangers at the end of issues #2 and #3 are spectacularly drawn pinups making you crave the next panels to move the story along.
  
Long haired anti-hero and son of Utopian Brandon Sampson looks eerily similar the artist as a young man, almost as much as his Dick Grayson likeness.

Great to see the artist in his work, all complimented by colorist, letterer and book designer Peter Doherty (2000 AD) on these pages for a soft tangible feel to the world, coupled with naturalistic tones on for the backgrounds.

[READ MORE AT FORCES OF GEEK]

Cosmic Treadmill: 'KNUCKLEHEADS' (comic review) - at Forces Of Geek!

Bill & Ted. Jay & Silent Bob. Han & Chewie. Monkeybrain & ComiXology.

True friendships are golden through and through. Trevor K. Trevinski and Lance Powers are roommates who do normal roommate things like watch Cake Boss marathons on Netflix, play video games and eat pizza.

The difference from most of us is, aliens have bestowed a crystal fist to Trevor, allowing him the power cosmic to cheat on GTA: 5 and maybe even fight some bad guys.

The latest digital comic series from Monkeybrain has been released on ComiXology and we’ve taken a look on this Cosmic Treadmill.

KNUCKLEHEADS #1—#3
Writer: Brian Winkeler
Artist: Robert Wilson IV
Colors: Jordan Boyd
Letters: Thomas Maurer
Imprint: Monkeybrain
Pages per issue: 17
Issue #3 Digital Release Date: August 28, 2013
Age Rating: 15+ Only
BUY IT HERE

We’re finally here, when the digital comic can get its due.

We’ve been reviewing ComiXology Submit titles and when appropriate also digital titles from the Big Two. With so many people reading on their devices these days (including the PC or laptop computer, with ComiXology in a browser) the market has changed from fearing the digital format in the post-iPad world in only a couple of years. ComiXology itself, along with Amazon has encouraged and allowed creators to submit works to the platform. 

Smart, forward thinking imprints like Chris Roberson and Allison Baker’s Monkeybrain Comics as well as Mark Waid’s Thrillbent have also provided a home and for these great digital comics from known and unknown creators, forging the way in the digital space for an almost Image Comics-esque revolution.

[READ MORE at FORCES OF GEEK]

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COSMIC TREADMILL - LOGAN’S RUN (Bluewater)

Bluewater Publishing picked up the rights to William F. Nolan’s cult scifi Logan’s Run comic books back in 2009, and since then has been pushing us to Last Day with a series of comics and collected trades.  This Cosmic Treadmill takes us forward to the ageist post-nuclear future society and the story of our runner Logan 6 and pairmate Jessica through a series of adventures to destroy the controlling mind of The Thinker.

Scifi fans should be encouraged to check out the extended universe of the Logan’s Run novel trilogy, 1976 film and short-lived 1977 television series.

The future world of Logan’s Run is rule based, appealing to gamers and nerds of all kinds.

You are required to turn yourself in to a Sleep Shop on your 21st birthday to be gassed for your Last Day. Runners fight the system by escaping the big sleep and the grasps of the Sandman. The Sandman is equipped with a gun to take down runners, with six different kinds of ammunition from the immobilizing Needler to the extreme pain on every nerve ending Homer. Logan starts as a Sandman before trading that in for a life on the run, the only way to survive past 21! Your age is reflected in the color of a gem, embedded in your hand.

It turns black on Last Day. 

The starting point for the Bluewater titles is Logan’s Run: Last Day.

The four issue series is the origin of Logan-6 on his Last Day, finally making the run for it. Quite literally on his way out, he meets his partner, or pairmate Jessica who fight their way to Sanctuary through a pack of Warriors-esque pre-teens on the Thinker’s side called Cubs and down to the depths of the sea to a pre-war Atlantis called Molly.

The beautiful artwork by Daniel Gete is reminiscent of the work of Kieron Gillen on Phonogram, making for a very nice read indeed. This story was written by Paul J. Salamoff (Discord, Vincent Price Presents) and ends on a cliffhanger.

The second trade, Logan’s Run: Aftermath is the direct sequel to this story. Though the art team changes multiple times over the course of the book, the story is still solid.

An advantage of these books is that series author William F. Nolan is involved with writing or co-writing many of the titles, including the one shot Logan’s Run Solo that features a future tale of an older nomad chased to the Wastelands by a current runner, only to be confronted by his own history! 

[READ MORE at FORCES OF GEEK]

BLACK MASK STUDIOS: LIBERATING AND OCCUPYING COMICS - Cosmic Treadmill at FORCES OF GEEK!

Black Mask Studios is a new creator owned and operated publishing company that can be described as being influenced just as much from the punk rock scene as it is the comic market.

Publishers Steve Niles (30 Days of Night), Brett Gurewitz (from punk band Bad Religion) and Matt Pizzolo (Occupy Comics, Godzilla) are ready to represent the punks, vegans, animal liberators, the 99% and hip hop heads with a variety of intelligent, funny and sometimes bizarre catalog of comics featuring artists and writers from the underground and also celebrity writers and artists the likes of Alan Moore, Ghostface Killah, Darrick Robinson and Ben Templesmith.
 
After the jump we take a look at their first wave of titles.

 

BALLISTIC
Writer/Co-Creator: Adam Egypt Mortimer
Illustrator/Co-Creator: Darick Robertson
Colorist: Diego Rodriguez
Letterer: Crank!
Producer: Pizzolo
Issue #2 out on September 11, 2013
BUY DIRECT

Not since Transmetropolitan (Warren Ellis, Darick Robertson) has a future world looked so disgustingly bleak and surreally awesome. One could also draw comparisons to the cybernetic hyper pop culture world of Hard Boiled(Frank Miller, Geof Darrow) or elements of Miller’s Roninfor this tale of ex-con Butch with his talking, fleshy best friend of a gun.

The walls, the cars, the drugs, the cloned human meat and even gigantic buildings with human heads seem to be living and breathing.

Everyone’s on drugs, especially the gun and bong hits from organic brain stems seem to keep everyone on the same level.

The psychedelia is merely a backdrop for a bad-boy heist story except that this time, the guns is too hungover to participate or function properly. 

What we have here is a cyber-psychedelic-anti-hero action comic for the ages. No wonder this is Grant Morrison’s favorite comic of 2013. Writer Adam Egypt Mortimer is working with Morrison on a movie project that will mess with your head no doubt!

Darick Robertson is a master of the page, with incredible detail and really excellent work here. Fans of The Boys and Transmetropolitan need this book!

[READ MORE at FORCES OF GEEK]

Cosmic Treadmill: A Look at 'Classic Star Wars - A New Hope' at FORCES OF GEEK

I wonder if Jedi before me woke up with a light saber in their bed like I did today.

Of course mine is a Halloween prop from years ago, I dug it our to do a pose for a project I’m working on.

Also, to the chagrin of my girlfriend, when she isn’t staying over, her side of the bed is filled with comics, toys, guitar picks, my backpack and whatever else I decide to leave there. Right now it’s my well-deserved booty from Boston Comic Con, where I raided the $5 trade paperback bins to expand my collection of classic must read comics on the cheap. My favorite score from the Con?

Classic Star Wars: A New Hope by Roy Thomas and Howard Chaykin.

This six issue series are the first Star Wars comics to exist, written by former Marvel Editor-In-Chief Roy Thomas in an unusual deal for Lucasfilm.

The rights were offered for free to Marvel so long as the first two issues hit the stand to raise awareness of the movie. No one knew the comic or the movie would be successful of course!

[READ MORE AT FORCES OF GEEK]

Cosmic Treadmill: 'MARBLE SEASON' by Gilbert Hernandez (review) - FORCES OF GEEK

Cosmic Treadmill: ‘MARBLE SEASON’ by Gilbert Hernandez (review)

The Cosmic Treadmill takes us back in time to those summer days of reading comics, collecting baseball cards and watching everyone grow up around you, even if it seemed as if you would never get older.

This year saw the release of Marble Season from Gilbert Hernandez (Love and Rockets). 

As the summer starts to wind down and kids go back to school, what themes will resonate from this book to an all ages audience?

The book is not merely a nostalgic retread of Hernandez’ childhood, but rather an account of growing up, family and the livelihood of a neighborhood when kids still played outside.


MARBLE SEASON
Writer/Artist: Gilbert Hernandez
Price: $21.95
Publisher: Drawn and Quarterly
UPC: 9781770460867
BUY IT HERE

Los Bros. Hernandez have been publishing Love and Rockets for over 30 years.  

Marble Season is an excursion to the past, referencing the dawn of Marvel Comics in the ‘60s,Adventures of Superman on TV with George Reeves and Topps narrative trading cards Mars Attacks.

Brothers Huey and Junior join in the reading fun and both share access to Junior’s box of comics—that is until Mom puts an embargo on comics for the both of them until Junior gets his grades up. Their younger brother, the toddler Chavo is too young to read, and prefers to tear the covers from the books. 

Around the neighborhood are a whole host of boys and girls of differing ages, playing marbles, stickball and even a It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World party.

Everyone seems to get along, except for when they don’t, which usually ends up in an honest to goodness old fashioned fight with little boy punches and slaps (remember those?). 

A tomboy swings her stickball bat, some bad kids move into the neighborhood briefly for the summer and the star football player decides he is more interested in cooking than playing ball.

The little vignettes of Huey walking around the neighborhood as time passes takes the concept of Billy in Family Circus running around the block and elegantly captures the sense of time passing in the summer, and the myriad of adventures one finds themselves experiencing. The story is told through the eyes of Huey and Junior but also with the gift of play and imagination. 

[READ MORE AT FORCES OF GEEK]

Cosmic Treadmill #1: THE NEED FOR SPEED - FORCES OF GEEK

Today, I debut a new comics column on Forces of Geek! COSMIC TREADMILL.

Cosmic Treadmill: THE NEED FOR SPEED

(Stefan made another awesome icon, thanks man!)

This is the first installment of my new regular comics feature here on Forces of Geek.

The comic book industry can be tough to keep up with, like a treadmill someone else is controlling from a back room somewhere.

Cosmic Treadmill may keep you up-to-date with news about exciting creator switches, new book announcements, company wide events or the coolest Kickstarter announcements.  Sometimes, the treadmill might go back in time to look at master works of the past (ahem, Jack Kirby or Wally Wood for instance!), back issue bin finds and also reviews of Comic Con trade paperback finds from the weird to the wonderful and the bizarre. There is no place on Earth and Time where this may not go. We will stretch across the universe and cross-time alternate universes while our little legs keep pumping along.

We hope you can keep up!

You may be able to tell, we’re Flash fans.

From Geoff Johns and Ethan Van Sciver in 2009’s Flash: Rebirth all the way back to classic Carmine Infantino and Joe Kubert’s 1956 Showcase #4 we look at the world differently when you can imagine popping out the red suit from your ring and running to save the world in the blink of an eye.

[READ MORE at FORCES OF GEEK]