Jamal was a guest on LeaguePodcast this past December and had a table at this year’s Boston Comic Con to promote his New 52 limited series, The Ray. He promised the League some big news when we ran into him, but had to keep the jewels to himself … until now.
Thanks for taking the time to chat with us today, Jamal. We know you are a very busy man. You’ve got another awesome book coming out this week starring hard rock band KISS!
You know the League members are huge fans of your work. We talked not too long ago about your reboot of The Ray with Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti. The KISS book is written by the big guy, Chris Ryall [Publisher/Editor-in-Chief] at IDW.
How many times have people said, “You wanted the best, you got the best” to you since the book was announced?
Not as much as you’d think. It’s been interesting, because a lot of the announcements about what we were doing were coming from the KISS website, so every so often I’d get friend requests from KISS fans. So now people send me links to old concert footage or photos they’ve taken of and with the boys.
Celebrating 50 years of web slinging and self-doubt, the Spider-Man we know and love meets new Ultimate Spider-Man Miles Morales for the first time in Spider-Men #1 this week by Brian Michael Bendis and Miles’ designer Sara Pichelli. “This is one of the biggest stories in Marvel history,” said Axel Alonso, Editor in Chief, Marvel Entertainment. … International best selling crime author Jason Starr gets revenge on Frank Castle’s enemies with a new limited series Untold Tales of Punisher Max #1. Expect bloodshed. … Pantha, shapeshifting killer pal of Vampirella, burns white hot on the pages of her new #1 from Dynamite. … Comic books cooked and curated with care from LeaguePodcast.com.
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The Loxleys are a Canadian family torn apart by the American invasion of Canada in 1812. Renegade Arts Entertainment releases a graphic novel accompanied by a historical summary of the events of the war that drew to a close with no clear victor, except maybe that the war ending was triumph enough. Written by Alan Grant (Judge Dredd, Batman, Lobo), illustrated by Claude St. Aubin (Captain Canuck), and lettered by the legendary Todd Klein (Sandman), this excellent work of historical recreation is a welcome break from superhero comics and reminds us of the brutality of 19th century warfare. The last chapter of the book is a richly illustrated companion, War of 1812 Historical Summary, written by Mark Zuehlke.
Timed for the 200th Anniversary of the War of 1812, this graphic novel based on historical events follows The Loxleys, a fictional Canadian farm family, as Americans invade their country. As these things go, young men are sent off to die or to be wounded badly.
COMICS Todd McFarlane returns to his flagship book as the writer and cover artist for the Image Comics 20th Anniversary in Spawn 220. Jim Downing uses his hell-born powers to unlock secrets twenty years in the making! … Way back in January we told you about the Infinite breakup of Kirkman and Liefeld. The trade of issues 1-5 has been printed and we we’ve been waiting for The Infinite issue 6 to find out just how the evil time-traveling Imperius is! … The summer of Valiant Comics continues with the debut of Harbinger #1 from NYT best-selling author Joshua Dysart (Unknown Soldier) and Harvey Award nominee Khari Evans!. Peter can read minds and alter matter, but what is the true price of such power? … Mind altering picks this week from LeaguePodcast.com.
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A womanizing superhero hooks up with his greatest foe, only to be thrust into the lifetime commitment of being a parent.Super Knocked Up is the web series and comic book telling the tale. We talk with series creator Jeff Burns to get the inside track on his action-packed take on superhero tropes in the hilarious web series.
Thanks for joining us, Jeff. Care to give us an elevator pitch?
Super Knocked Up is an action comedy about a female super villain who gets knocked up by a superhero and has to raise the baby with her nemesis.
This doesn’t sound like a relationship that is off to a great start. These are the last people on Earth either wants to be thrown together with. Yet, they are involved in the horribly awkward situation that we have a lot of fun with. Comedy, action and drama all in one. I’m proud of what my cast and crew did. It is a fun series.
Where can we check this out? At the beginning of June we are re-releasing the five episodes from Season 1 on KoldcastTV.com. On our website, you can see four bonus episodes where you can see more of the world in Super Knocked Up.
Aw Yeah, Superman Family! Superman fans rejoice as our favorite Tiny Titan creative team gives us a full issue of Superman Family Adventures #1 — first seen earlier this month at Free Comic Book Day! Art Baltazar and Franco debut a fun look at the first family of superheroes and superpets. Aw Yeah, Krypto! … Last week was the epic and meta conclusion of Mark Waid’s Irredemmable. The companion book, concentrating on bad dude Max Damage turned superhero, Incorruptible concludes at issue 30. … Money! Get back. It makes the world go round, innit? Eddie Campbell (From Hell, Bacchus) presents a fascinating look into currency “how does it work?” in Lovely Horrible Stuff hardcover. Your money is well spent when you follow the weekly LeaguePodcast comic book suggestions!
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ROFLCON III brought us many a delightful meme and comic culture fodder. Following the map in our choose-your-own-adventure guide, we found our way to the webcomic panel with Richard Stevens of the Diesel Sweeties webcomic and Sam Brown of Exploding Dog. The Q & A got bizarre (as only a self referential Internet conference can get), so I asked Richard to talk to us about the comic market, webcomics, toasters, pixel kittens and more.
Richard — thank you so much for joining us. Are you, in fact, a robot? I identify as a robot, so I do believe you are supposed to give me the option of a robot bathroom due to the fact that we’re both in Massachusetts.
Sam Brown and R Stevens from ROFLCON informationPhone cam
We usually talk about comics that flop around your hand. While it is true that you can hold an iPad or laptop in your hand, your work does not start out with the intention of being printed. How have digital comic strips grown with you and your style? I don’t really see a difference between paper and electronic comics as far as the writing and art goes. I don’t think that anyone who focuses on that divide is going to enjoy the next ten or twenty years.
If anything, I think we’re going to see comic books move closer to the webcomics model: Frequent updates published electronically, followed by more expensive permanent copies for the bookshelf.
Working digitally allows you to rapidly iterate ideas as if you were living some kind of high-concept Grant Morrison X-Men ruining secret laboratory so that only the strongest survive, break free, and imprint themselves on paper.
Sookie Sookie now! Vampires, mindreaders and Daredevil’s Ann Nocenti are more than enough reasons to pick up the new ongoing True Blood series from IDW. Issue #1 sucks your wallet dry of $3.99. … Youngblood is Rob Liefeld’s team superhero book held over from Image Comic’s inception 20 years ago. Issue #71 is an all-new look at the team from screenwriter John McLaughlin and Liefeld. Get caught up on the front lines of the Image Revolution 20 years on. … Conspiracy theorists are right, we are watching you so put down that coffee! Get paranoid with the debut issue of Mind MGMT from Matt Kindt (3 Story). Talking dolphins and weaponized psychics haunt and bewilder a young journalist on search for the truth. … Picks this week from LeaguePodcast.com.
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The 2013 Star Trek sequel has wrapped filming but there is more to see in the JJ Abrams Trek timeline while we boldly wait for a release date.
The Boston Sci-Fi/Fantasy Meetup group had a hand in selling out Coolidge Corner Theatre on Monday to wrap up Season 7 of the theatre’s Science on Screen series with Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home. Before the screening of the scratchy print, NOAA‘s Dr. David Wiley educated the audience on his research on humpback whales in Stellwagen Bank and how the magnificent creatures use their flukes to create giant splashes to trap dinner.
We trapped our own meal—fruit roll-ups from the concession stand and Cokes. Just like when we first saw the film in 1986.
Hardcore gets people’s attention, especially here in Boston. What about a book about an assassin brain waves taking over your body? Hardcore #1 is a Pilot Season book from Image heavyweights Kirkman (Walking Dead) and Silvestri (X-Men, Cyberforce). … Stoked by the new Hulk in the Avengers movie? So were we, and Marvel wants you to bite on this “7.1” issue. That strange number means ‘Buy me, please’. Incredible Hulk 7.1 will smash your puny brain. … A retired assassin and a ballerina are hunted by a sniper in Nathan Edmonson’s Dancer #1 from Image Comics. … Picks this week from LeaguePodcast.com.
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Author and illustrator Maurice Sendak passed away yesterday at the age of 83. Where the Wild Things Are inspired generations of adults and children—maintaining a dark and mysterious tone while celebrating play and discovery. Sendak taught us to hug the monsters under the bed and not be afraid of the dark.
Mr. Sendak was recently on the Colbert Report in January full of energy and wit. He even endorsed Stephen’s first attempt at a children’s book, I Am a Pole (And So Can You!).
“I don’t write for children. I write, and somebody says, ‘that’s for children’.”
Comic book master John Byrne (Superman, X-Men, Fantastic Four) subtracts one from the superhero family to bring us his creator owned Trio #1. … The stars of the show are Rock, Paper and Scissors. No room for a guy that catches on fire in this book! … The Pro from Garth Ennis, Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti pits a super-powered prostitute against the hard livin’ streets. Oh my! … Takio is our all- ages pick this week from Avengers scribe Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Avon Oeming. Sisters Taki and Olivia deal with being the only superheroes on the planet, can they handle all of the pressure? … Picks this week from the letter T and LeaguePodcast.com.
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The High Holiday of geekdom is upon us. The publishers have deemed us worthy once a year to give us free books, but more importantly, to get kids reading. Avengers hits the big screen as Free Comic Book Day celebrates an eleventh year!
“One does not simply GET INTO comic books.”
Your local comic book store or LCS will likely be decorated with balloons, offer snacks and be slightly more awesome than usual on Saturday. The stores want your business, your kid’s future business and will be offering smiles to all who come in the door. It won’t be about the money, it will be about the pride shared by our fandom.
Comics and graphic storytelling have been inadvertently promoting literacy for nearly a century.
Robert Venditti (The Surrogates) pens the triumphant return of 1990s armored barbarian X-O Manowar for the all-new Valiant Universe. Look for the talking voice variant cover of issue #1 to hear ‘The Voice of War’. … You sure hate Mondays, but Wednesdays just got a little better with the debut of Garfield #1 from kaboom!. Comics legend Mark Evanier (DNAgents, Groo, MAD Magazine) teams up with artist Gary Barker for comic gooier than 7 layer lasagna! … The less questions asked about the new-new DC continuity the better. Earth 2 #1 materializes over at DC to give us alternate versions of Batman, Superman, Power Girl and Huntress. Why? Only Starman’s James Robinson knows. It’s comics—just consume and accept! … LeaguePodcast supports your decision to bring the kids to Free Comic Book Day Saturday!
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Guy Delisle will be at Harvard Book Store tonight at 7pm for a free signing and discussion of his travel journal from Jerusalem entitled, Jerusalem: Chronicles From the Holy City.
Canadian born cartoonist and animator Guy Delisle lived in the Holy City of Jerusalem for a year with his wife and two young children. His wife worked for Doctors Without Borders as an administrator as Guy settled in to raise his children, find a studio, sketch constantly and teach cartooning when called upon.
Drawn and Quarterly debuts his hardcover graphic novel this month, and Guy joins us in the States from his permanent home in the South of France to promote his book with a slide show and discussion about his experiences in one of the oldest cities in the world.
I was immediately intimidated by this assignment. How can I do the work justice when I know absolutely nothing about the politics of the Holy Land? My base understanding is that the place is to be revered as the birthplace of civilization and of Western religion. I’m uneducated on even current events or recent conflicts in the region. I expected to come out of this review feeling dumb.
Thankfully, Guy’s book was a travel journal of his life there as someone with knowledge on par with mine. Delisle’s cartooning and illustrations of the intensely complex subsections of the city throughout the book transformed my vague conceptions of the West Bank into realized maps.
There is the culture built upon conflict. Conflict begets villages, towns and separation. Checkpoints and automatic weapons meld seamlessly with the scenes of vendors selling fruit in the market.
At least six major religions have a righteous stronghold and ancient holy buildings in the Old City. httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4RNcIjW1-k I have the utmost respect for the work that Doctors Without Borders does and learned for the first time how difficult it must be to travel in the region on such a mission. All vehicles are subject to search. Bombings, shootings and violence are daily occurrences.
I imagined myself in Guy’s shoes adjusting and exploring all the old world had to offer.
The book illustrates the logistics of living in the city as a foreigner and seeing the place for the first time. He was responsible for getting his kids to school and finding places for play. There is so much honest exploration and learning exposed in this book.
Guy is a curious explorer, hopping into the Arab minibuses with a backpack to check out the city, draw and ask questions.
Chapters are broken up by months, and high holiday celebrations of the major religions are highlighted with an observant eye. There is a humorous reveal about the author’s spiritual beliefs that I identified with about halfway through the book. To be a non-believer in the Holy Land you are on the surface neutral, and at the same time without allies in conflict. Guy shows that it is best to keep your atheist or agnostic beliefs to yourself and blend in wherever possible. My original expectations were surpassed by a desire to travel more and carry a sketch book with me more often. The humorous human element of tense political and religious contexts in real situations brought me genuine happiness and joy. The illustrative maps and symbols in the work gave me a better understanding of the Middle Eastern region than all of my education and news input combined.
Guy Delisle has given us the history of the world told through the eyes of an outsider. He tells the story of how an artist and his family can integrate into a cultural mix thousands of years in the making.
OK so this review was a preview of Guy’s signing. I went, got some pictures and asked about process. Guy uses photo references, his own sketches and google image search for his drawings. The clerk actually quoted me in his intro!
Guy Delisle has given us the history of the world told through the eyes of an outsider. He tells the story of how an artist and his family can integrate into a cultural mix thousands of years in the making.
100 Months was written and drawn by the late 2000AD/Judge Dredd artist John Hicklenton before his assisted death in 2010. Diagnosed with MS, John struggled with the disease and left us with this ethereal and insightful quest of Mara the Earth Goddess vs. evil Longpig. … S.H.I.E.L.D has taken over in Ultimate Comics: Ultimates #9. What does this mean for the Ultimates and the nation they are sworn to protect? … Find out all about the place Superman hangs his cape and his gigantic golden key in Superman Secrets of the Fortress of Solitude! The sheer number of visits to the Fortress of Solitude Wikipedia site is prompting another check up at the shrink before having to explain this to HR! Picks from LeaguePodcast’s Boston Comic Con After-Party are here. Thanks for coming!
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It’s finally here! Convention season has begun for fans of comics and pop culture. The growth of Boston Comic Con over the last five years has turned our fair metropolis into the host of one of the biggest shows in the country. The spaces keep getting bigger, the roster gets more impressive and local fans have something to look forward to all year without shelling out the traveling expense of the San Diego or New York conventions. We speak this week with Colin Solan, Public Relations for Boston Comic Con 2012!
Hey Colin! We’re here to talk about something you’ve been putting a lot of time into lately…the 2012 Boston Comic Con! Thanks for taking the time to speak with us.I’ve been attending the Boston Comic-Con for the last few years, and honestly I can say I always have a great time. How important is the fan’s experience to you and the promoters? It is the most important factor to us, obviously we need fans to come back year after year and bring their friends. We’ve grown rapidly in our five years and that is directly due to attendees enjoying themselves and spreading the word.
Peter Bagge (HATE, Strange Tales: The Incorrigible Hulk) is going to be at Boston Comic Con this weekend! … Strap on the experimental augmented reality goggles to relive the major events in your life and see just how twisted your past self can get in Peter’s new book Reset! … What if you kicked it like King Kong and could reach into buildings with your giant hand? Here’s the companion book to the Matt Kindt’s 3 Story graphic novel in 3 Story: The Secret Story of the Giant Man, reprinting the globetrotting tales from Dark Horse Presents. … Sixty years from now there is no oil after a new American Civil War, and New San Diego is being protected by Navy Seal descendants, The Marksmen. Can they defend the city against the Lone Star rangers? Find out in the collected Marksmen trade paperback from Image Comics. Come to the LeaguePodcast Comic Con After Party — Saturday at McGreevys, 6pm!
What do you get when you have the creator of Kick Ass, Mark Millar, and the artist of the Watchmen, Dave Gibbons, working on a book together? A mysterious looking couple of dudes with a yellow logo on the cover, that’s what! Don’t miss Secret Service #1. …Kevin Smith wrote a screenplay for The Bionic Man reboot in the 90s that never saw the light of day so Dynamite adapted this for a successful comic! Marvel writer Paul Tobin brings female counterpart and ex-girlfriend of Steve Austin, Jaime Sommers, to life in The Bionic Woman #1 spinoff this week. …Grins were from ear to ear at Hub Comics over the weekend as collectors and fans met with classic G.I.Joe writer and Wolverine scribe Larry Hama. What happens when Cobra Commander faces the Blue Ninjas in G.I.Joe - A Real American Hero #177? … Picks this week from LeaguePodcast.com. Psssst… guess what’s coming up next weekend? NO! Not your chance to win a trip to Sonar Festival in Barcelona (*sigh*) even BETTER! COMIC CON. And Clay’s got a PREVIEW: EARTH PRIME TIME: BOSTON COMIC CON 2012 PREVIEW: TYLER JAMES OF COMIXTRIBE
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ComixTribe is an online community that imprints with the motto “Creators Helping Creators Make Better Comics.” The Red Ten, Scam and the upcoming Oxymorongraphic novel anthology will be showcased under the bamboo signage of the ComixTribe banner at Boston Comic Con on April 21 and 22. We’ve asked Tyler to preview the convention from an independent perspective as a writer, artist and editor of some great breakout books!
Tyler, thanks so much for previewing the BostonCon with us. We always chat at conventions big and small, but this year is a big one for you. Are you excited? This one is special. I’ve been exhibiting at Boston for the last four years or so, but this is the first year I’ll be there exhibiting as ComixTribe and sharing the table with several ComixTribers. We’ll even have T-shirts! That TOTALLY makes us official, right?
KISS returns to comics and superstar artist Jamal Igle (The Ray, Superman) assures us that every page is lookin’ good. Jamal and IDW Publishing’s Editor-in-Chief Chris Ryall return to the comic book Dynasty for a brand new number one issue with a story called ‘Dressed to Kill’. 
