Alex Ross Totally Ruins The Captain America Costume
October 17, 2007 | Categories: Comic Books / Design

Continuing with the comic book theme this morning, I just thought I’d comment on the new Captain America, and his ultra-shitty new costume. To give you the backstory, there’s going to be a new Captain America, coming in January. The original Captain America, Steve Rogers, was sniped and is totally dead (for the time being). I think it’s cool that they’re finally having someone else take up the mantle of Captain America, and it should be a good story.

My problem comes with this new costume, which was designed by a guy named Alex Ross. Ross is an incredible painter, and has told some of the most iconic comic book stories of the last 15 years. But I also think he’s an ego-maniacal asshole. The guy thinks he’s the savior of comic books, but 15 years later, his style really hasn’t changed and he’s still drawing the same “iconic” way… basically he’s a one trick pony.

And now he’s redesigned the new Captain America costume. Just look at it. It’s black pants, a black shirt, and then some god awful, ultra shiny, metal head/chest piece thing-y. I think what really bothers me is how unrealistic this is. Not that comic books are firmly rooted in reality, but I feel like Marvel tries harder than the other companies to keep things in a more realistic world.

My point being, how the hell would anyone fight in a giant metal head and chest piece?! If he bends over to touch his toes, he’s going to gore himself in the abdomen! How is he going to lift his arms above his head?!?! it makes no sense at all that anyone would ever try to fight in a silly get-up like this.
It also looks like all of the character designs he did for Kingdom Come, and that JLA thing where they got those metal costumes. Seriously, Alex? This is the best you could do? Stop being a one trick pony, and start doing edgy, creative things like Uncle Sam again.

*END NERD RANT*

Bobby

Zombies vs Robots vs Amazons Covers
October 17, 2007 | Categories: Art / Comic Books

I’m so frigging excited for this! Here are the two covers for the Ashley Wood and Chris Ryall’s next big thing, Zombies vs. Robots vs. Amazons. I know I’ve posted about this project before, but I can’t get enough of Ashley Wood’s art, and so I’ll take any reason to post about it.

I’m guessing that this comes out in the next couple months? This would make a wonderful stocking stuffer for your children.

Bobby

Akira Club
September 30, 2007 | Categories: Books / Comic Books / Illustration

Akira Club

I saw this earlier today when I was in Secret Headquarters and thought I’d give a mention about it. Akira Club is a collection of rare and unseen sketches that went along with the original manga. This is the first time it’s all been collected together in English. I spent some time looking through, and it was really rad to see Otomo’s ideas and thinking in putting together images, as well as the process of getting to a final image.

Definitely worth picking up if you’re a fan of Akira, or amazing illustration in general.

Bobby

Zombies vs. Robots vs. Amazons Preview Art
September 27, 2007 | Categories: Art / Comic Books

Zombies vs. Robots vs. Amazons Preview Art

Newsarama has gotten a preview of the artwork for Ashley Wood and Chris Ryall’s newest project, Zombies vs. Robots vs. Amazons. The series picks up where Zombies vs. Robots left off, basically the world being blown up, only now you have half-naked Amazons. The creators also mention that there’s going to be a zombie minotaur in the story… awesome.

Look out for the first issue at your nearest comic book shop in late October or early November.

Bobby

Brooklyn Superhero Supply Co.
September 20, 2007 | Categories: Comic Books / Design / Life

Brooklyn Superhero Supply Co.

I know for a fact, the next time I’m in New York, I’m going to the Brooklyn Superhero Supply Co. They sell all sorts of awesome (read: fake) superhero related things like invisibility dust, and capes, and all sorts of great things for your inner child (read: nerd). It’s really too bad they don’t have more pictures of the things they sell and their signage.

BUT! I did find this great Flickr set with a lot of images of the crazy things they sell. Definitely give it a look!

Bobby

‘God Save Stan Lee’ T-shirt
September 17, 2007 | Categories: • T-shirts / Art / Clothing / Comic Books / Design

'God Save Stan Lee' T-shirt by Secret Headquarters

This might possibly the coolest, most clever t-shirt I’ve bought all year. Perhaps this entire decade!
The t-shirt was made by the fine folks over at Secret Headquarters, undoubtedly the finest comic shop in all of Los Angeles. Paying homage to the classic Sex Pistols graphic, the Queen has been kicked out by the King and grandfather of comic books.

This easily could have been made to look like shit. They could have tried using a ton of colors, or doing some sort of comic book looking font, but they didn’t. They stuck with a black shirt and tan colored ink, and made it just as rough and gritty as the original.

I’m not sure hwo many they have left of these, but I’m sure you could e-mail the awesome people over there and order one if you really want one… because I’m sure you do.

Check under the cut for a couple more pictures!
Keep reading ‘God Save Stan Lee’ T-shirt…

Jim Mahfood Draws The Colt 45 Website
September 16, 2007 | Categories: Art / Comic Books / Design / Internet

This is a pretty random post, but I thought I’d share it anyway.
Jim Mahfood is an LA based artist who I’ve been a fan of for quite a while. He’s got a great comic book style that’s like a hip hop version of Jamie Hewlett. Somehow, I stumbled across the Colt 45 website… yeah, the janky beer. Anyway, it turns out they hired Jim to draw that whole damn site, including buddy icons and desktop wallpapers, the whole nine yards.

I guess Colt 45 is going for a younger demographic, which makes sense, and Jim Mahfood’s website is titled 40oz Comics, so I guess it makes sense that he drew it!

Bobby

Uptight Issue 2
August 20, 2007 | Categories: Art / Comic Books

I picked up the latest issue of Jordan Crane’s comic book Uptight last week at Secret Headquarters. Yet again he delivers a totally beautiful cover, and some really odd, ghost-related stories inside.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like he has any for sale on his site yet, but I bet if you e-mailed him you could snag yourself a copy!

Bobby

Ultimates 3 Cover by Joe Madureira
July 26, 2007 | Categories: Art / Comic Books

Ultimates 3 Cover by Joe Madureira

NERD ALERT! If you don’t like comic books, you should probably just skim on by this one… haha.
The picture above is the new cover of Ultimates Vol. 3, which is going to be drawn by Joe Madureira and written by Jeph Loeb. The image is absolutely fantastic, showing a bunch of the Ultimates and non-Ultimate characters. There will be another half to this cover as well, featuring the villains as well. My favorite person in the whole cover is Quicksilver at the bottom right.
It’s about time Joe Madureira got onto a big time book like this instead of wasting his time on silly projects that don’t go anywhere. Hopefully he keeps the awesome work!

To see the picture above REALLY BIG click here!

Bobby

Yoshihiro Tatsumi
July 24, 2007 | Categories: Art / Comic Books

Everyone who knows me has a general idea that I’m obsessed with Japan. So lately I’ve been buying these graphic novel collections by Yoshihiro Tatsumi, who’s been called “the grandfather of alternative manga for the adult reader”. He has two collections published so far, The Push Man & Other Stories, and Abandon The Old in Tokyo, which contain stories that were published during the 60’s. Yoshihiro’s drawing style is very simplistic, but his stories are often very dark and disturbing, often dealing with violence, rape, abortion, and pornography.

What the stories really show is how the Japanese struggled through a time of intense change, trying to modernize and adapt to a renaissance in their culture. They didn’t know quite what to do, or how to act, everything was becoming incredibly difficult to process, and people felt as though their lives meant little, they were just one in a crowd.

I HIGHLY suggest reading these, especially if you have any interest in Japanese culture or history in general.

Bobby