Kickstarter Korner: Chatting SEX & VIOLENCE VOL. 2 With JUSTIN GRAY

Comics writer Justin Gray just wrapped up a longstanding run on Jonah Hexwith longtime writing partner Jimmy Palmiotti.

Gray, Palmiotti, writer Frank Tieri, artist Amanda Connor and colorist Paul Mounts make up PaperFilms, a creative collective that has launched yet another successful Kickstarter Exclusive comics campaign.

Among the awesome rewards available in this Kickstarter-exclusive release, supporters can actually have artwork printed in the book. 

Justin joins us today to talk about the campaign and what sets a PaperFilms project apart from the others in this interview promoting the Sex & Violence Volume 2 Kickstarter that’s running right now.

FOG!: Hi Justin, thanks for joining us today to talk about your Kickstarter for Sex & Violence #2. What does Kickstarter mean for PaperFilms? 

Justin Gray: Kickstarter provides opportunities for us to create work that might not otherwise find a publisher. I believe it also provides us the opportunity to help grow an audience for material that would struggle in a mainstream marketplace, which is dominated by a specific genre. 

[READ MORE AT FORCES OF GEEK]

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LEAGUEPODCAST AND DIGBOSTON COMICS PICKS OF THE WEEK FOR SEPTEMBER 10, 2014

COMICS

Trust the Doctor as he makes his way to a recession-hit paradise planet. 11 takes on a corporate theme park world with evil mascots and ecological destruction. Sound familiar? Matt Smith is still alive Doctor Who 11th Doctor #2! … Paul Tobin takes us back to the mystery of the Prometheus voyage to LV-223 for the first time since the motion picture in this mini-series from Dark Horse, Prometheus: Fire and Stone #1. … It’s the comic book you wish you thought of! Teen Dog from Boom! Studios tackles being a teenager from the eyes of your best friend, a pizza loving backpack wearing sunglass donning Teen Dog #1. Eat my shorts! Picks this week from the time shifting LeaguePodcast.com.

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Kickstarter Korner With Joseph Schmalke for THE INFERNAL PACT AT FORCES OF GEEK

We love it when a plan comes together! And we love when one Kickstarter project begets another…and another!

Joseph Schmakle was on the Treadmill back in November for Calamitous Black Devils and now has The Infernal Pact campaign running.

Put your earbuds to 11 for this heavy metal meth fueled ride into the darkness!

FOG!: Joe, it was really awesome to see you at Boston Comic Con. What was your show schedule this year and want to tell us about the Calamitous Black Devils’ launch? 

Joseph Schmakle: So this year I’m concentrating more on creating my new comic book so I’ll just be doing local conventions for the rest of the year. Coming up I’ll be at Granite State Comic Con in Manchester New Hampshire and then at Bang Pop in Bangor Maine.

[READ MORE AT FORCES OF GEEK]

ALUMNI EDITION: WHAT WE WISH WE KNEW

Clay Fernald (Clay N. Ferno) - General Manager at Middle East
“I wish there was someone to tell me about the triangle of comic book stores in Harvard (New England Comics, Newbury, Million Year Picnic). Though being a regular Wednesday Warrior and a college freshman might not be easy budget-wise, most stores have a bargain bin for cheap books. Plus, having a place to hang out on Wednesday to talk comics is free for the most part. Remind me to tell you about night four in the city walking through the Fenway by myself for the first time as an unaccompanied adult when you see me!” [Million Year Picnic, 99 St. Auburn St., Cambrige. themillionyearpicnic.com] + [New England Comics, 14 Eliot St., Cambridge. newenglandcomics.com]

[READ MORE AT DIGBOSTON]

Murdock St. Fire Coverage

Thanks for your support in our crowdfunding.

I’m OK. 

Moving my office and living space (with Stacey) to a loft in Charlestown after the fire that made us homeless on August 21.

Read more here.

VANYALAND

DIGBOSTON

YOUCARING (donation site)

I’m at a loss for words about how much this means to me. Wishing Kyle (and Cajun) and Michelle (and Bronson) and my Neighbors at 105 Christian, Max, Colin and Rose can find a place to live soon.

I love you all.

XO

Clay

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LEAGUE PODCAST AND DIGBOSTON COMICS PICKS OF THE WEEK WED. AUG 27, 2014

EDITOR’S NOTE: Thanks so much to Matt Dursin for writing up the picks this week! Check out his Robin Hood: Outlaw of the 21st Century comic book here! 

COMICS

Artist, writer and League pal Liz Prince brings us Tomboy, a graphic memoir of her struggles to find her place growing up, trying to “be a girl.” Liz will be signing copies and speaking today, WED August 27 at the Brattle Theater in Cambridge, MA … Speaking of girls, Rachel of Rachel Rising fame sees the investigation of her own murder take a dramatic turn in Rachel Rising #28 by Terry Moore… Flip a patty and celebrate the comic debut of the Belcher family in Bob’s Burger’s #1, an in-canon comic take brought to you by the creators of the hit Fox TV series. Picks of the week brought to you by Leaguepodcast!  Listen to our milestone 200th episode here!

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League Podcast and DigBoston Comic Book Picks of the Week for August 20, 2014

COMICS

One of Image Comic’s titular super characters is being sought after by sleuth reporter Diane Dane. Supreme: Blue Rose #2 from Warren Ellis and Tula Lotay is beautiful and strange as she tackles the universe itself. … Following up the hit Phonogram is McKelvie and Gillen’s Wicked and Devine #3. Bust out the Sisters of Mercy for this underground goth explosion. … Justice, Inc. #1 teams up The Shadow, Doc Savage and The Avenger for a pulp team up 75 years in the making written by Michael Uslan, producer of the Batman films! Join LeaguePodcast this SAT 8/23 for their free 200th episode film screening of The Specials at Somerville Theatre. Limited Seats available with RSVP, and it’s free!

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BOSTON COMIC CON 2014: NOTES FROM THE IMAGE COMICS PANEL by David Brooke

[READ MORE AT ADVENTURES IN POOR TASTE]

Honored to moderate this one!

SAT 8/23 - League Podcast #200 celebration - The Specials (2000) Screening at SOMERVILLE THEATRE - FRE

SAT 8/23 - League Podcast #200 celebration - The Specials (2000) Screening at Somerville Theatre.

http://bit.ly/league200somerville
SAT AUGUST 23
LEAGUE PODCAST EPISODE #200 (SCREENING? CELEBRATION? EVENT?)
FEATURING 
THE SPECIALS (2000 film)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0181836/

SOMERVILLE THEATRE
8pm

somervilletheatreonline.com 

FREE WITH RSVP - LIMITED SEATS AVAILABLE

Somerville Theatre
55 Davis Square
Somerville, MA 02144-2908
(617) 625-5700

Thanks to you!

RSVP (FREE! LIMITED SEATING AVAILABLE) | FACEBOOK EVENT

SAT 8/23 - League Podcast #200 celebration - 

The Specials (2000) Screening at Somerville Theatre.

http://bit.ly/league200somerville

SAT AUGUST 23

LEAGUE PODCAST EPISODE #200 (SCREENING? CELEBRATION? EVENT?)

FEATURING 

THE SPECIALS (2000 film)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0181836/

SOMERVILLE THEATRE

8pm

somervilletheatreonline.com | leaguepodcast.com

********************

FREE! YOU MUST RSVP!

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More info at FB event!

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Thanks to you!

MEMBER OF THE PRESS:

Members of the LeaguePodcast are available for interview about 200 successful podcast episodes since inception in 2009!

[email protected]

Our most recent episode features Boston Comic Con coverage, interviews with Tim Seeley, New England Comics and 

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COPY:

Have you claimed your seat to the

League of Ordinary Gentlemen Comic Book Podcast - leaguepodcast episode 200 screening of The Specials (film)? 

NEXT SAT 8.23 at Somerville Theatre! 

FREE! YOU MUST RSVP!

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More info at FB event!

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SAT AUGUST 23

LEAGUE PODCAST EPISODE #200 (SCREENING? CELEBRATION? EVENT?)

FEATURING 

THE SPECIALS (2000 film)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0181836/

KICKSTARTER KORNER: 'DEER EDITOR' with Writer Ryan K. Lindsay at FORCES OF GEEK

Since we profiled his weird and wonderful Monkeybrain book Headspace back in March, Australian writer Ryan K. Lindsay has become one of our favorite independent comic creators.

Other books of note you may be interest in are a run with My Little Pony: Rainbow Dash, and his own books Fatherhood and Ghost Town.

Ryan joins us today to promote his Kickstarter for Deer Editor #1 about an investigative journalist deer, stalking the streets for clues and justice.

This equine-noir story, like the rest, starts with the first trot.

FOG!: Thanks for joining us again, Ryan, this time for a Kickstarter Korner. The campaign just started, correct?

Ryan K Lindsay: Yep, in the very first days of our wild adventure.

[READ MORE AT FORCES OF GEEK]

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A Beginner’s Guide to Finding Your Nerdy Niche in Time for Boston Comic Con 2014 - INTERVIEWED AT BDC WIRE

“Even if you’re entirely unsure which types of comic characters you relate to, the experts can tell you where to start. Clay Fernald, who hosts the League Podcast and has covered comics extensively for Forces of Geek and DigBoston, says that most comic clerks and fanatics are happy to make recommendations.

“I have a huge stack of books that at any time I could just hand to someone and be like, ‘You should read this,’” he says with a laugh.

Currently, that stack includes Mark Waid’s “Daredevil” comic, Scott Snyder’s “American Vampire,” and “Sex Criminals,” by Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky, which follows the escapades of two people who learn that having sex gives them the ability to stop time.

[READ MORE AT BDC WIRE]

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League Podcast and DigBoston Comic Book Picks for August 13, 2014

COMICS

Yo Joe! SHHHHH….The Silent Interlude is one of the most defining stories in G.I. Joe history. Rushed to a deadline, Larry Hama completed this Snake Eyes story by skipping the lettering step in March of 1984. The deluxe edition 30th Anniversary edition of G.I. Joe #21 quietly glides into shelves today! … One of the Guardian’s of the Galaxy writers Dan Abnett unleashes a mysterious hellspawn onto a medieval Europe with Dark Ages #1 from Dark Horse. … The Turtles have a good weekend ahead of them so check out TMNT Annual 2014 from original creator Kevin Eastman! …Picks this week from the Guardians of LeaguePodcast.com.

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EARTH PRIME TIME: DMC GRAPHIC NOVEL AT BOSTON COMIC CON

Continuing our preview of Boston Comic Con and this weekend (starting today!), Earth Prime Time cracked the tape on the mylar bag that is this column to share with you big news for comics and hip hop. Darryl “DMC” McDaniels will be previewing the October release of DMC Graphic Novel #1 at Boston’s ever expanding convention. Dig comic guy and Adidas fan Clay N. Ferno moderates the Darryl Makes Comics panel on Saturday in the Amphitheater at 4pm.

Available exclusively at #BostonCon is an issue #0 of DMC with a Boston Comic Con convention ‘variant’ cover. These are typically the hottest items at a show of any size, but when you cram an already iconic logo with DMC sandwiched between two red bars, you have the most recognizable symbol in hip hop. Comic artist and convention guest Koi Pham (Daredevil, Avengers, Scarlet Spider) apes Steranko’s 1968 Incredible Hulk Special #1 with a new hero about to be squished like Atlas. It’s DMC with Godfather hat, fat gold chain and Ultra Goliath shades! Only 100 will be available!

One of the interior art teams — MadTwiinz Mike and Mark Davis — with be joining DMC at the panel Saturday. These dudes have worked on a ton of animation you’ve seen before, Boondocks, Black Dynamite and How To Train Your Dragon:Riders of Berk. I can’t say much about the pages secretly slipped out of a gatefold for me to peep, but I can use words like ‘dynamic’, ‘colorful’, ‘fun’ and dope!

The book, now available for Diamond pre-order (JUL141175) is set place in an alternate 1980s. In this history, instead of rocking a mic and becoming a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, dude takes his knuckle rings to the streets…to mete out justice!

What we’ve seen so far is fun street level superhero action, like Marvel heroes Daredevil and Luke Cage. You might ask yourself what it’s like to be a superhero. DMC made himself one and it’s awesome. With nods to the New York City run by Ed Koch that birthed hip hop legends DMC with Wild-Style graffiti and turnstile jumping this truly is a different comic story and one worth reading.

Launching a comic in this market is hard, we know, we’ve done it. But launching a whole new publishing imprint is even harder. That’s what (D)arryl (M)akes (C)omics is, an imprint. We’re thinking that what we’ve seen in these pages combined with one of the rap’s pioneer’s singular vision of a comic book company could be great for the industry. Recent books by Ghostface and MF Grimm have done well to pave the way for these three stripes to be kickin’ the comic market straight in the teeth.

BOSTON COMIC CON. SEAPORT WORLD TRADE CENTER, 200 SEAPORT BLVD., BOSTON. FRI 8.8 – SUN 8.11. FOR FULL EVENT DETAILS VISIT BOSTONCOMICCON.COM

DMC (of RUN DMC) – DARRYL MAKES COMICS PANEL W/ CLAY N. FERNO. AMPITHEATER AT BOSTON COMIC CON. SAT 8.9 AT 4PM.

LEAGUE PODCAST IS AT BOSTON COMIC CON BOOTH W3

[READ MORE AT DIGBOSTON.COM]

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THE FOX: FREAK MAGNET (GN Review) - COSMIC TREADMILL AT FORCES OF GEEK

Just before Archie Comics superhero imprint Red Circle Comics gets eclipsed by the grittier, jaw gnashing Dark Circle Comics (imagine lots of lightning and silhouettes), The Fox Vol.1: Freak Magnet is collected for your enjoyment.

Written and illustrated by Dean Haspiel with heavy scripting help from Mark Waid (Daredevil, Thrillbent).

A classic comics creative team J.M. DeMatteis along with Mike Cavallaro (pencils, color), Terry Austin (inks) and John Workman (letters) set WWII comics on it’s side with tie-in back up story “The Face of Hate,” a cornerstone of the whole volume. 

If you remember comics being fun, bad guys getting punched, and if heroes leaping between dimensions gets you trotting, please check out this all-ages friendly The Fox. 

Back in MY DAY, we took our comics by the issue and we liked it! Well, that’s what I said way back in October when issue #1 hit the stands.

These days with all the hustle and bustle and Instagram snaps it’s hard sometimes to focus on a story when you have to wait a whole month between chapters. Lots of stuff is going to trade for me lately.

And boy was I happy to come across this sly Fox, all bundled up nice!

[READ MORE AT FORCES OF GEEK]

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GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY (review) AT FORCES OF GEEK

Review by Clay N Ferno

Produced by Kevin Feige

Screenplay by James Gunn, Nicole Perlman

Based on Guardians of the Galaxy by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning

Directed by James Gunn

Starring Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, 

Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Lee Pace, Michael Rooker, 

Karen Gillan, Djimon Hounsou, John C. Reilly, 

Glenn Close, Benicio del Toro, Josh Brolin

Marvel Studios, James Gunn and Kevin Feige have done it.

They’ve taken sci-fi to a new level, brought humor to the game and among the accomplishments too many to list have made unknown characters to the spotlight with great actors to get Marvel Cosmic into movie theaters across the globe.

The ensemble cast, one who is a raccoon, another a tree, spark on the screen and the space battle action triples from the previous epic-scale Marvel movie, The Avengers. 

[READ MORE at FORCES OF GEEK]

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Indiegogo-GO! Support Nick Bertozzi's RUBBER NECKER #6! at FORCES OF GEEK

Nick Bertozzi’s sixth issue of the Ignatz & Harvey Award winning series Rubber Necker is in the fundraising stage over at Indie Go Go.

The first issue (2003) has sold out, and one of the only way you can get a PDF is by donating to the campaign. The anthology book containing his own work, Nick’s first ongoing series, includes the highly praised Drop Ceiling strip, exploring the relationship a young man has with his father and his family business.

Funding goes to printing and shipping hard copies of the book — a limited run — be sure to check out the campaign today.

[READ MORE AT FORCES OF GEEK]

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INTELLIGENT LIFE - David Reddick Hits The Cosmic Treadmill AT FORCES OF GEEK

nerd and geek set! With the popularity of such mainstream shows Big Bang Theory and The Wil Wheaton Project and superhero movies being the Hollywood go-to—perhaps the time is right for the real estate on the dwindling comic page to be geeked out!

David talks to us about his ensemble comic strip Intelligent Life (King Features Syndicate) and how he uses social media to spark life into the characters.

FOG!: Thanks for joining us, David! I love when I can catch a strip at the beginning, but now I just want more! How did Intelligent Life come about?

David Reddick: Intelligent Life is a culmination of all the things I love. Anything geeky… nerdy… everything I’ve loved since I was a kid, and still do. It’s also a culmination of my previous experience in working with theStar Trek franchise in an official capacity, with the Roddenberry company, with Garfield, working for newspapers, etc. 

I created the rough concept for Intelligent Life many years ago, actually, in the early ’90s. But the time wasn’t right, then.

And, last year, in my thinking and desire to create a comic strip for syndication, I wanted to create a comic strip that was completely ME, and in asking myself, “If I could create any comic I want, ANYTHING… that is ALL ME… what would it be?

Answer: GEEK STUFFFFFF.”

And Intelligent Life came to life.

[READ MORE AT FORCES OF GEEK]

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League Podcast and Dig Boston Picks of the Week July 30, 2014

Sometimes even the best comics ship late, but that’s OK for Kate! Hawkeye #19 hits shelves this week as Madame Masque goes after the female Hawkeye Kate Bishop on the latest in this West Coast Avenger adventure! … Did you even know that Neil Gaiman returned to Sandman this year? Well, the Dream King is on issue #3 of 6 in Sandman Overture #3 with art by our pal J.H. Williams III (Batwoman, Promethea). … Like swords and fierce red heads? Fear not, Batgirl’s Gail Simone gives you the best intro to the world of Sonja the Devil with Red Sonja #0 this week. Introducing Sonja’s long lost husband? Picks this week from the Uncanny LeaguePodcast.com.

DIAGRAM FOR DELIQUENTS (review) at FORCES OF GEEK

equart takes on the Senator McCarthy of comics, Dr. Frederick Wertham in their latest deep dive into comic book history.

Longtime fans of comics are familiar with the Comics Code Authority stamp on nearly every comic book cover until very recently, and those with a sharp sense of comic book history are familiar with Wertham’s damaging 1954 book,Seduction of the Innocent.

The book blamed comic books and other media for the rising problem of juvenile delinquency in the United States and spearheaded regulation for the funny books.

1954’s comic book hearings in front of United States Senate Subcommittee on Juvenile Delinquency had Wertham as the key witness. 

From censorship to juvenile delinquency to the severed heads in EC Comics,Diagram for Delinquents looks at the tarnished side of the Silver Age and how one man changed the face of comics and book publishing forever.

This documentary explores the nature of the censorship in the 50s and the lasting effects of how the Comics Code continues to ripple into how publishers make decisions to this day. 

Wertham’s motivations are explored and his little known contributions to the African-American Civil Rights Movement are also spotlighted, showing that the man was complex, compassionate and not as much of a demon as everyone may perceive.

[READ MORE AT FORCES OF GEEK]

FOG! Chats With BOX BROWN, Author of ANDRE THE GIANT: LIFE AND LEGEND - COSMIC TREADMILL, FORCES OF GEEK

Box Brown joins us today to talk about Andre The Giant: Life and Legend from First Second Books.

The biographical comic about one of the most legendary wrestlers of all time is sweet but honest about some of his shortcomings.

From the French countryside to The Princess Bride, André Roussimoff lived a full life, towering over his wrestling opponents literally and figuratively.

FOG!: Thanks for joining us today, Box! Andre The Giant and comics. What brings the two together? Obviously, wrestling and comics were formative to our generation. Why paint a biography of Andre in comic form?

Box Brown: I am a life-long fan of wrestling and was always kind of obsessed with it to a great extent. In the early 2000s I saw an A&E Biography about Andre so I had that background on Andre’s extraordinary life. I had an understanding of how tragic and compelling it was. Fast-forward to late 2010 I was reading about Andre online and read about how Samuel Beckett gave him a ride to school. I thought that would make a good comic and I just made it into a mini-comic. Then it just snowballed from there.

You touch upon the myth, and truly Andre was like that for us kids. Did he eat a guy? Was he a monster? He was superhuman, a real life superhero. It seemed like that was rough on him. During your research did you find how he dealt with it? Drinking?

Yes, I think drinking was one way he dealt with his issues. He was a person who I feel had trouble connecting to other people.

[READ MORE AT FORCES OF GEEK]