BLASTOSAURUS Walks On THE COSMIC TREADMILL: An Interview With Richard Fairgray at FORCES OF GEEK

A dinosaur detective living in the present day fighting raptors in a time-spanning adventure?  Sign me up!

ComiXology Submit brings us Blastosaurus, from New Zealand’s talented Richard Fairgray and Terry Jones.

Writer Richard Fairgray was kind enough to take this colorful noir dino for a workout on the Cosmic Treadmill and tell us about his favorite toys and turtles!


FOG!: Thanks for joining us, Richard! What’s the elevator pitch for Blastosaurus?

Richard Fairgray: In short, he’s a crime fighting dinosaur, it’s just that in the real world that isn’t super helpful. He fights raptors, robots, travels through time but at the heart of it all he’s a curmudgeonly old man who wishes he wasn’t dinosaur shaped.

I love how you’ve tapped into the aspect of childhood play and storytelling with the book. Does that imagination stay with all people or just creative types as they get older?

I think it’s just a different way of looking at the world. All kids have that default of asking ‘why’ to anything and everything they discover and I think as we get older we stop needing to know, we become happy to just accept ‘because’ as an answer.

I was also very aware that in the early issues of Blastosaurus there’d be a lot of exposition to set up the story and, more importantly, the rules of this universe.

[READ MORE AT FORCES OF GEEK]

MIGHTY Q&A: Tim Gibson Expands Moth City with ‘The Reservoir’

Tim Gibson is back to talk with us about his first Moth City expansion, The Reservoir. While still an amazing use of the digital and tablet comics page, this black-and-white stark Western is as home on the range as it is forward thinking. Meant as an introduction to the Moth City world, this standalone one-shot is coordinated with a ComiXology sale on Wednesday, Feb. 5.

By CLAY N. FERNO

Clay N. Ferno: Tim — thanks for joining us again and giving us a preview of your latest. You’ve returned to the frontier for a prequel to Governor McCaw’s Moth City years. What is different about this McCaw?

Tim Gibson: McCaw has been doing some pretty bad things in the Moth City series, I mean really reprehensible. In ‘The Reservoir’ he is a much younger man on the cusp of great things. Life is looking up — he has a new wife, baby on the way, and he and his brother are venturing into the plains of Texas to make their fortune.

McCaw is a messy and complicated guy, and this one-shot explores what makes a man what he is and looks at the events that create (or possibly just reveal) our darker tendencies.

Besides the landscape and webcomic format used to tell the story, you’ve chosen to keep this black and white, a change from Moth City. The change seems quite deliberate, care to tell us more?

The art is all full-screen — everything is a splash page from a moment of realization to a murder. It gives some real impact, both to the art and the writing. It just seemed a good fit for a Western, those expansive vistas and small figures in large landscapes. In New Zealand, we have our own Western sub-genre — ‘The Man Alone,’ which McCaw is, emotionally.

[READ MORE at 13th DIMENSION]

2-BIT COMICS: Waid, Palmiotti and Conner’s Gatecrasher at 13th DIMENSION

We continue to expose the truth! This almighty truth is that there are plenty of neglected comic books and graphic novels hiding in your discount bins and long boxes at your favorite store just begging for attention. This week, Gatecrasher Vol. 1: Ring of Fire, from the sure-fire team of Mark Waid, Jimmy Palmiotti and Amanda Conner.

This teenage tale of interdimensional invasion is exactly what I look for in a 2-Bit comic: There are space crews with big guns, angry mentors and broken dates with a hot girlfriend all in the first chapter.

Our hero is college jock Alec Wagner, who by day is swooning over girlfriend Mia. He’s got a bit of the Peter Parker luck, always being called in to fight bug-eyed aliens on his covert team — the Split-Second Squad — just in time to break their dates. Because of his human instincts and his age, he’s routinely given a hard time by his crewmates.

On the other side of the “gate,” the evil Solen Cagliar has stolen an important piece of technology — the Thinktank. When Alec steals it back, he is covered in a liquid computer goo. Will this new goo make Alec more valuable to the team? I think Vol. 2 has the answers!

[READ MORE AT 13thDIMENSION.COM]

Triple Shot Digital: 'WORLD WAR MOB' #1, 'VALHALLA CINDERMANE' #1 and 'THE SOLDIER' #1

Now that someone has an iPad, that someone (OK, its me!) is reading comics whenever, wherever and however he can! This Triple Shot takes us to more than one battlefield with Vito Delsante’s World War Mob and also to the Anglo-Zulu War in Guido Vrolix’ The Soldier. Don’t worry, we have aliens and huge axes wielded by a strong female hero in Valhalla Cindermane.

All of these books are submitted to the ComiXology platform via the creator-owned ComiXology Submit program, where independent creators can be discovered alongside the virtual shelves with mainstream books!

WORLD WAR MOB #1
Writer: Vito Delsante
Artist: Giancarlo Caracuzzo
Price: $1.99
Imprint: New Paradigm Studios
Page Count: 22
Digital Release Date: January 29, 2014
Age Rating: 17+ Only
BUY IT HERE
TWITTER: @incogvito

Issue #1 of Vito Delsante’s World War Mob hits the ComiXology store today. A quick review of the book in the platform’s new browser-friendly HTML 5 Beta reminds us what a great story we have here.

For fans of Band of Brothers and Goodfellas, this World War II story brings us from the collection rounds of gangsters on the Lower East Side to the front lines to the Battle of the Ardennes.

Capt. Vinny DiGreco is offered a secret mission while on leave in Sicily.

The circle of life as it where, even the Army owes Lucky Luciano a favor, so Vinny accepts a top secret mission, that will have affects on the outcome of the war!

Vito shared that no one in comics has touched on wiseguys joining the draft before, and we hope the concept catches on. Issue #1 is off to a great start, full of action, Nazi punching and also street level crime stuff happening in New York. 

Giancarlo’s art is great as well, he colors himself in watercolor washes. His line work reminiscent of great Sgt. Rock work by Joe Kubert. The realist illustration really helps set the tone and time setting. 

World War Mob takes comics back to classic storytelling, combining rather than mashing up genres to give the reader a one of a kind experience. This world can be built on in many different directions, and our hero in the first issue is one we can root for both as patriotic Americans and fans of organized crime stories. 

[READ MORE at FORCES OF GEEK]

DigBoston and LeaguePodcast Comic Book Picks of the Week for January 29, 2014

COMICS

Lying! Lying Cat is the star of the latest issue of the much lauded Saga #18. Remember it is good to buy in issues because of the amazing letters pages that will not be reprinted in the trade! … Dean Haspiel revives Red Circle family friendly hero The Fox in the hilariously adventuresome The Fox #4 as he takes on the King of Diamonds. …Aw Yeah, Lil’ Sonja! The tiny versions of our favorite Dynamite pals continue with Lil’ Sonja from Jim Zub and cover by famous cartoonist Art Baltazar! Picks from Leaguepodcast.com.

DigBoston and LeaguePodcast Comic Book Picks of the Week for January 15, 2014

COMICS

Black Beetle is the more mysterious than the Shadow, has more gadgets than the Inspector, and his moody Colt City is plagued by murders! Check out our neo-noir hero from best-selling creator Francesco Francavilla in Vol. 2 starting issue Black Beetle: Necrologue #1. Golden Age hero Skyman gets a boost into the air from Dark Horse. Skyman #1 is written by Ultimates writer Joshua Hale Fialkov. The masterful John Byrne’s Triple Helix series comes to an end with Issue #4, further expanding the Byrne-verse of heroes that include Trio and of course Next Men! …Picks from LeaguePodcast.com!

Triple Shot With a Digital Chaser: G.I. JOE: #12, SUPERIOR FOES OF SPIDER-MAN #7, INDESTRUCTIBLE HULK #17 plus KAMI #1

Happy New Year!  We hope you get to make your regularly scheduled trip to the comic store this week and when you do, take into consideration this Triple Shot! 

G.I. Joe gets a new writer that explores the origins of different Cobra Commanders past and present, the new Beetle’s origin starts at a birthday party years ago in The Superior Foes of Spider-Man, and Hulk gets mad when people start invading his space in Indestructible Hulk #17.

Kami is a nice quick chaser over at ComiXology.

G.I. JOE #12
WRITER: Paul Allor
ART: Alex Cal, Steve Kurth
Publication Date: December 31, 2013
Price: $3.99
Publisher: IDW Publishing
UPC: 82771400431101211
Buy it HERE

It is no surprise to anyone that I am a fanatical G.I. Joe fan, I literally wear it on my sleeve in the form of an Arashikage tattoo.

Larry Hama’s Marvel run (continuing to date over at IDW) is what got me into comics, and the reboot of the franchise at IDW has impressed and compelled me to write about the multiple IDW series from the get go.

That was because names like Chuck Dixon, Hama, Christos Gage, Mike Costa and Fred Van Lente were carrying on the legacy.


Sure, the main series has had its low points but in general, overall I have been happy.

To my surprise, a guest on my podcast, a relative unknown writer in the scheme of things, Paul Allor was tapped to take over for Fred Van Lente on Season 3 after his departure. Allor cut his teeth in Comics Experience (online classes led by former Joe Editor Andy Schmidt) and quickly got pro work on several TMNT titles.

Allor is picking up on a Gage and Costa concept from G.I. Joe: Cobra in which the Cobra organization has been around for centuries. Like an anonymous Pope, one Commander is replaced by the next, hiding his identity.

This book tells the story of at least two Commanders, not including the present day as C.C. hires a Press Agent to tell the story behind Cobra.

Taking over for one of comics hottest writers, Fred Van Lente can not be easy, and I am delighted to say Paul Allor pulls it off! I can’t wait for the next issue, and more ghosts of Cobra Commanders past!

[READ MORE AT FORCES OF GEEK]

BOOK REVIEW: IPAD: THE MISSING MANUAL, 6TH EDITION

Just in time for gifting purposes, O’Reilly Media delivers this new edition of the popular iPad:The Missing Manual. The timing’s ideal for non-holiday reasons too, as it’s only been a matter of months since the last major iOS 7 upgrade and release of new iPad models. As usual, this guide is an entirely useful companion, in paperback or even better via Kindle or iBooks. For those looking for a short version, the answer is yes–it’s worth buying for a loved one. Or yourself.

Turn your mom into a tablet ninja.

For the first time ever, I’m gently tapping through this review on the sleek glass surface of a new 64gb iPad Air with a rocket-fast A7 chip. An exclusive iPhone user for years, The Missing Manual has been essential reading in my getting intimate with this new tablet or, as I like to call it, my “comic book delivery device.”

As it were, 2013 also saw the release of the long-awaited Retina iPad Mini, which one can assume is inspiring innumerable consumers to choose an Apple tablet for the first time. In those cases, problems they might encounter include: Having little experience with iOS; Trying to replace their computer with an iPad (don’t do it!); not being tech savvy at all. The latter is a phrase I loathe, but what else better describes the “Facebook won’t let me do this or that” worrywarts who are always asking for us, the resident nerds, to help them post in their knitting groups?

Enter The Missing Manual.

Since 2000, the O’Reilly imprint has conquered the difficult task of communicating computing basics and essentials, and they’ve done it better than the For Dummies series (much respect to the helpers there, but it’s nice to not be insulted right in the title).

[READ MORE at DIGBOSTON.COM]

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The Cosmic Treadmill Takes a Look at Monkeybrain's EDISON REX at FORCES OF GEEK

I like myself some Superman, heck, I even like Lex in a way.

When it comes to new superhero comics, I have a go-to theme that I like too, and that’s of the Superman gone bad vs. the world and the super villain gone good to stop him.

While that’s not exactly the case here, as seen in The Mighty or Irredeemable, but Chris Roberson and Dennis Culver’s Edison Rex (Monkeybrain comics) transforms the world’s most formidable super bad guy into the man who will save the world. It won’t be easy for him, and it also won’t be easy for him to shake his bad public perception as he puts on the hero hat. IDW Publishing has released the first volume of the digital first Monkeybrain comic, a great independent comics gift idea this season. 

When Valiant, Protector of Earth, is exposed to knowledge of why he is really here (aliens from a doomed planet sent his RNA here to conquer our race) by criminal genius Edison Rex, he chooses to kill himself instead of wait to be activated by his doomed planet’s signal. Fans of recent issues of Superior Spider-Man will catch this trope immediately, as Edison Rex makes an equally hard decision. No longer having to use his inveterate hate for Valiant, he decides to take up the mantle of superhero! Of course his loyal female sidekick M’Laizz has her eyes set on world domination still, and needs some convincing. Much like Strax the Sontaran from Doctor Who, M’Laizz does go along with the plan, no matter how helpful to the puny human race!

This comic is like rolling around naked in a million dollar bills on your bed, or a million comics (though you could probably guess my preference as to the best paper to roll on!). Roberson has tapped into and referenced so many comic stories from the Silver Age to now, and not just Superman, but Thor, Howard the Duck, Crisis on Infinite Earths, Bizarro Superman, Invincible, Fantastic Four, Fortress of Solitude, Cerebro, Superman robots, throw a little Grodd and The Venture Bros. and you have got just the first volume! Rao only knows what’s in store next! (Actually, the next six issues are available on ComiXology, Issue #12 drops on Wed. Dec. 4!)

[READ MORE AT FORCES OF GEEK]

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MIGHTY Q&A: TIM GIBSON AND MOTH CITY - DEBUT AT 13TH DIMENSION

New Site! New Column! Same Great Comics Coverage!

Really stoked to be writing for these guys! Thanks for checking it out. - Clay

Tim Gibson’s murder mystery Moth City is a genre-spanning digital comic that draws from the Western, Kung Fu, zombies and historical fiction. The slippery ink line work and muted palette is combined with an instinctual approach to digital-native comics creation, made of hundreds of swipes per issue, animating and exposing sections of the page. The New Zealander, whose tale is based in a place similar to 1930s Hong Kong, joins us today to preview his latest issue.

Clay N. Ferno: Hi, Tim. Moth City returns to ComiXology today. When we last spoke in June, you said you wrote this first as a narrative piece. Issue #6 is bringing all of the story lines to a head. Is the pacing on point to end at issue #8?

Tim Gibson: Yes, the story is definitely ramping up. A lot of the characters are reaching breaking point, having already made some decisions that they can’t come back from. The last few pages of Issue #6 imply that the characters are going to be coming back together again. Last time they were in close proximity, a man got his throat cut. This time there’s a heck of a lot more teetering on the edge. Issues 7 and 8 are going to play that out, and not many characters are going to be happy with the result (evil grin).

Going through the issues, almost each added a new twist or an entirely new genre to the book. Can we expect genre exploration in the home stretch?

We’ve had mystery and crime/detective, a bit of thriller, some horror, this issue has some Western tones with the showdown on the roof, so yeah, it’s a nice little gumbo. The story dictates a lot of conflict and drama to wrap it all up so the remaining issues are moving towards all-in action. Which is great because previously we’ve only had moments interspersed here and there.

[READ MORE at 13th DIMENSION.COM]

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DigBoston and LeaguePodcast Comic Book Picks of the Week for December 4, 2013

 


COMICS

Get ready for a new chapter in Jack Boniface’s afterlife as Peter Milligan (Shade the Changing Man, Justice League Dark) takes over Shadowman at Issue #13. Looking to rid himself of the Shadowman Loa, he seeks the ‘Punk Mambo’ in a swamp. But the loa is not easy to get rid of. Points for the Babaloo (JP’s punk mambo band) reference! … Quantum and Woody #6 puts the boys on a suicide mission. Art by DigBoston pal Ming Doyle! … Glen Brunswick’s Reality Check comes to a close this week with Issue #4 - what happens when you superhero comes to life an asks for advice! Picks from LeaguePodcast.com!

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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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Triple Shot With a Digital Chaser: VENOM #42, MARVEL NOW WHAT?! #1, SAMURAI JACK #1 plus STRANGER #1 at FORCES OF GEEK

Two of our favorite Spider-Titles bite the web this week, and somehow Peter Parker isn’t around to brood about it!

Cullen Bunn wraps up his 28 issue run on Venom in Venom #42 the same week Miles Morales’ Ultimate Comics Spider-Man book is cancelled after 2 volumes and 13 years from Bendis’ brain.  Luckily, Marvel pokes fun at itself this week with a new version of What The-?! in the form of Marvel NOW What?! #1.

Jim Zub of Skullkickers writes the return of Cartoon Network’s Samurai Jack #1and over in ComiXology we see the start of a zombie invasion in Stranger #1. 

VENOM #42
WRITER: Cullen Bunn
ART: Jorge Coelho
Publication Date: October 23, 2013
Price: $2.99
Publisher: Marvel Comics
UPC: 75960607565204211
Buy it HERE

There aren’t many series I’ve got in my collection that I’ve grown with since the first issue, have made it past the first year of publication and are subsequently cancelled before reaching a major milestone (50, 75, or 100 issues). 

I started with Venom when it was announced that Rick Remender was on the book, and I was there when Flash Thompson lost his legs in ASM #574. 

I liked Agent Venom as a character, Flash needing redemption and resolution with his home life. The symbiote had a new quality as well, being able to be controlled and molded into a super-soldier suit providing legs and power to the handicapped Flash.

When Bunn took over (first co-writing scripts with Remender), I almost dropped the book because I thought I was buying this to read Rick Remender stories. That wasn’t true, I genuinely liked Venom and Flash, could relate to the problems in his life and the geographical cure he seeks by moving to Philadelphia.

In Philly, his enemies tracked him down, and was as at risk and endangered as ever. 

In the last issue, his new symbiote sidekick is given a name, Mania. This neighbor’s daughter is now not only able to use the powers of Venom but has been cursed with a mark of Mephisto.

There’s plenty of action in this one, with a horde of demons and battle with Crossbones. 

Too bad to see this one go away, but Bunn teases that he’s “not quite done with symbiotes” in the letter column. Hopefully a Venom & Mania team-up book helmed by Mr. Bunn is in the works for Season 2 of Marvel NOW!

[READ MORE AT FORCES OF GEEK]

DigBoston and LeaguePodcast Comic Book Picks of the Week for October 16, 2013

COMICS

Check out our the first part of our two-part unabridged interview with Dig favorite cartoonist Peter Bagge (HATE) today in the paper and online. Bagge teams up with Drawn & Quarterly for a biographical comic of feminist icon that was once banned in Boston in Woman Rebel: The Margaret Sanger Story. … Golden Age hero The Fox returns in a new #1 from Archie’s Red Circle Comics with the award winning team of Dean Haspiel (Bored to Death, American Splendor) and Mark Waid (Thrillbent, Daredevil). … Harada has stolen some nanites from Bloodshot’s body and it’s up to H.A.R.D. Corps to exfiltrate and save him before the remaining nannies eat him alive in Bloodshot and H.A.R.D. Corps #15. Picks this week from LeaguePodcast.

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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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Triple Shot With a Digital Chaser: STAR TREK #25, ULTIMATE COMICS: SPIDER-MAN #27, POWERPUFF GIRLS #1 plus THE JOURNALS OF ROHAUSER #1 at FORCES OF GEEK

The Klingons pick up from where Star Trek: Into Darkness left off, Miles is back in the mask in Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man, and the girls take on Mojo Jojo as The Powerpuff Girls return to comics.

On the ComiXology store, vigilante investigator The Journals of Rohauser #1 awaits you.

STAR TREK #25
WRITER: Mike Johnson 
ART: Erfan Fajar
Publication Date: September 25, 2013
Price: $3.99
Publisher: IDW Comics
UPC: 82771400278202511
Buy it HERE

One thing we didn’t get enough of in Star Trek: Into Darkness was Klingons! Sure, they showed up with Bat’leth and we got a cool fight scene, but that wasn’t enough.

On Khitomer the Kilingon are setting up base when Romulans attack. Kirk and new crew mates are caught in the middle of this age old conflict before heading out on to the Enterprise’s five year mission.

Mike Johnson writes with the aid of Roberto Orci to continue the new Star Trek universe beyond the screen. Fajar’s art style fits, drawing accurate portrayals of the new cast and some very mean looking Klingons. 

Of note, two characters make their way onto the Enterprise bridge in this issue, Sulu’s sister Yuki and another formidable female, Carol Marcus from the second movie. We hope to see both of these ladies on the screen and in the pages of Star Trek in the days to come. Technician Yuki Sulu wears a read tunic, we pray for her safe survival in this, The Khitomer Conflict, part 1 of 4.

[READ MORE AT FORCES OF GEEK]

EARTH PRIME TIME: REALITY CHECK, NON-HUMANS, + MORE WITH GLEN BRUNSWICK

Image Comics has been, since 1992, the proving ground for comic book professionals to claim ownership of their work. Today we talk to Image creator Glen Brunswick about his awesome new series Reality Check, which tells the tale of a hero stepping into the real world, directly from the mind of his creator! Glen was gracious enough to talk a bit about his recent work with one of the fathers of Image, Whilce Portacio, entitled Non-Humansabout toys coming to life and walking among us. We’ve been a fan of Glen since his ‘Kirby as Genre’ series, Jersey Gods, so we would have been remiss to mention The Kingin our interview on this fine Wednesday. Reality Check #2 is released on Wednesday, October 2.

DIGBOSTON:Hi Glen! Thanks so much for talking to us today about your comics, and news of your most recent series, Reality Check for Image Comics! 
GLEN BRUNSWICK: Thanks for the invitation. Happy to be here.

In Reality Check #1 you’ve turned the mirror on a comic book creator that is being vetted by The Big Two and also we see a comic book origin like we’ve never seen before, the secret origin of a comic book creator! How much of this is based on your own experience? Is this an ongoing title?
I’m starting Reality Check off as a four issue mini-series. I have some ideas for future sequels, but this is a self contained full story experience. I clearly share some similarities with Willard—and that was a big part of writing about a comic creator who’s creation comes to life in the real world. There wasn’t a lot of research involved for me—it’s the old write what you know adage.

So many of the details about the comic industry and Hollywood seeped into the work based on my own memories or experiences.

Having said that, Willard as a character, is quite different than me—He’s single, while I’m a married guy. He’s has experienced great loss in his life—the death of his brother, while I fortunately haven’t been affected by that kind of tragedy.

[READ MORE AT DIGBOSTON.COM]

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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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DigBoston and LeaguePodcast Comic Book Picks of the Week for September 18, 2013

COMICS

Another great spyfi title hits the shelf this week with Zero #1 from Image Comics by Ales Kot and up and comer Michael Walsh. Great military action with a sci-fi twist! … Over at Dark Horse, we trade in our NOLA vamps for furry Werewolves in the Big Easy with Kiss Me Satan #1 from the author of the recent Buffyverse tale Spike: A Dark Place. “Do you wanna die”? Toadies drummer Mark Reznicek co-writes Buzzkill #1 about a superhero who gets his powers from drinking copious amounts of alcohol! … Picks this week from LeaguePodcast.com.

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