Spreading the Christmas Joy, Holiday Auction

Remember those animation cells I gave away a few months ago? The Spidey animation cells from the 90’s? These ones:

I figured, this Christmas, instead of giving it away to someone who already has enough in his life, I would auction it off. The proceeds will go to a homeless family’s Christmas dinner. 

They aren’t worth much, maybe $7.00 each, or about P300-P350. That’s not the point, though. I need your help, guys. I mean, sure we can do something greater, something grander, but I think it’s a good start, yes? We’d give more if we could, right?

Here’s the plan: 

- Bids are entered via comments. Indicate which animation cell you are bidding for. C’mon, guys, it’s for a cause so don’t be stingy. I hope you guys put up more than it’s actually worth.

- Come December 18, 2009, the highest bidder wins the animation cell.

- I’ll take the monies and come Christmas night (24th or 25th, depending on when I can find a homeless family here in Makati), I’ll buy some good food for a homeless family here in Makati. There are a lot of them, actually, over at CBD. The winning party may come with if he desires, but that’s Christmas, so I doubt it.

It’s a simple gesture, but it might make some folks out there a little happier this holiday season, yeah? Let’s c’mon, people!

Living The Geek Dream

I would stake my reputation (whatvever’s left of it) and my left testicle in saying that each and every comic book fan has dreamed up a superhero or heroine in whatever setting at some point of their lives. Admit it, it’s okay. I’ve sketched up (very badly) a couple of characters myself. In fact, very recently, a good friend of mine and I had very similar ideas for one character, and it’d be cool to flesh it out somehow. 

Unfortunately, no matter how good our ideas are, it won’t fly past the pages of our sketchpads or our mind’s eyes. Well, for most of us anyway. There are a very bold few who take the leap into their dreams and come out victorious, like a golden warrior demigod who just slew the mighty Grognak.

 One of those brave souls would be Gio Paredes, a man whose claim to fame is his creation, Kalayaan. You got nuthin’ on this guy. Have YOU ever published your own comic book that circulated outside your circle of friends after playing the stereotypical round of DnD? Hells no. This dude has. That gives him auto-cool points. Also, we have him with us today and he was kind enough to give us some of his time and answer some of our questions.
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Renaissance First Batch of Artists

Remember that event I invited you all to go to? And you were all “WTF is that, dude? There isn’t even a program flow?” Yeah, that one. I need you guys to wrap your minds around the first released batch of artists confirmed for the event:

First batch is:

Budjette Tan - Trese, Batch 72
Carlo Pagulayan - Elektra, Hulk, New Avengers, Agents of Atlas, Skaar
Carlo Vergara - One Night in Purgatory, Zsazsa Zaturnnah, Graphic Classics
Edgar Tadeo - X-men, Highroads, Wolverine
Elbert Or - Bakemono High, Cast, Lola: A Ghost Story
Ernest Jocson - Elemental Fouces, Maze Agency, Tokyo Knights
Gener Pedrina - Sanduguan
Gerry Alanguilan - Wolverine, X-men, Wasted, Superman: Birthright
Gilbert Monsanto - HellCop, Bayan Knights, Exodus
Jay David Ramos - Iron Man, War Machine, Avengers: the Initiative, Guardians of
the Galaxy
Jeff Huet - Fantastic Four, Hulk, War of Kings, War Machine, Nova, Iron Man, New Avengers, Ultimate Ironman
Kajo Baldisimo - Trese, Defuser, Star Wars Legacy
Lan Medina - Fables, Silver Surfer, Punisher
Leinil Yu - Wolverine, X-men, Highroads, Superman: Birthright, Secret Invasion
Lui Antonio - Red Sonja, Terminator, War Hammer, Star Wars, Thulsa Doom
Michael V- Bubble Gang
Manix Abrera - Kikomachine, 12
Philip Tan - Batman & Robin, Green Lantern Agent Orange, Spawn
Pol Medina Jr. - Pugad Baboy
Ricky Nierva - Toy Story 2, Monsters Inc, Up, Finding Nemo
Rico Rival - Transformers Gen1, Transformers 80s movie, Bravestarr
Rod Espinosa - The Couageous Princess, Prince of Stories
Stephen Segovia - Wolverine Origins, Wolverine Manifest Destiny, Mighty Avengers, Dark Wolverine
Whilce Portacio - Uncanny X-men, Spawn, Wetworks, Hulk

The Renaissance is that big, my friends. You know what’s scary? This is just the first batch.

Comic of the (previous) Week: Flash: Rebirth #5

Work has been so hectic that I haven’t been able to find the time to write. Not that there’s someone out there who patiently waits for this CotW thing, but I just feel unproductive without churning one out, like a neglectful father who forgets to pick his child up from school.

With the stack that came out last week, the choice for CotW wasn’t so hard. Flash: Rebirth is a big title, and normally the shit hits the fan in the issue before the one that concludes a storyline. Unfortunately, as much as I love Wally West, this shit is getting ridiculously retarded. FLASH FAMILY!

Written by Geoff Johns
Pencils (and probably inks) by Ethan Van Scriber and colors by Brian Miller

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Green Lantern Fan Film Trailer

In the tradition of Grayson, Batman and Superman and other fan-fucking-tastic fan-made trailers, here comes one of Green Lantern. Truth be told, this is actually one of the duller ones. Grayson blew my fucking face off and then I had to remold my face because its awesomeness melted it off. This is one isn’t as good as the one with Nathan Fillon, but it’s still worth a look-see.

Also, yes, I’ve been copping out and just ganking random videos off YouTube. I promise to write something worthy of the tag “The Study of Awesome” sooner rather than later.

Oh, and Robert Downey, Jr. said he’d retire from acting if Sherlock Holmes doesn’t do well. I am guessing this is a ploy to get all his loyal Iron Man fans to go watch Sherlock Holmes. If that is so, then I say “Good play, Mr. Downey. Good play.” I will now watch Sherlock Holmes fifteen times over, and then pay for 15 more showings but I won’t actually watch it anymore.

If RDJ isn’t in Avengers, then I do not want to see Avengers any fucking more. BAH HUMBUG! And no, I’m not being sarcastic in the slightest.

Astonishing X-Men Motion Comic #1

I know this pissed a lot of people off. There were people who paid for it over at iTunes then Marvel goes ahead and releases it for free. Okay, just to piss those guys off a little more, here it is:

Regardless of whether anyone actually reads Comicology or not, I feel horrible that I haven’t been writing as much as I should. Work is too much for me to handle and I’ve other distractions (Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2). I’ve slowed down with the comic book collecting quite a bit as I cannot afford it. Besides the casting of the Heroes Three, there’s not much to talk about, really. 

I promise to put two things up soon, though: an interview with Gio Paredes and Manhunt’s colorist, Lizz Buenaventura. Watch out for that.

A Little Taste of Renaissance

Remember that event I wrote about two entries ago? People didn’t really get that and I got asked some questions I wasn’t sure if I should answer. Dude who’s organizing this amazing blockbuster of an event is kind enough to share with me some information and give me permission to give my readers a little taste of what’s to come. Come really hard.

Here’s a very small fraction of the people who are going to showcase their talent at this event. Remember, this is all for a good cause.

Philip Tan- This guy’s talent is phenomenal. He recently did Agent Orange, the Green Lantern story, which was fucking bad ass, and the new  Batman and Robin starting issue 4, methinks. And the action in those panels, ladies and gentlemen, almost flew out of the page and punched me in the FACE! Also, naked Dick and Damien.

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Comic of the Week: Strange #1

Before I even begin to talk about the issue, I think it’s fair to let you know about how much I fucking love Dr. Strange. Yes, he’s the deus ex machina of the Marvel Universe, but I still effin’ love the guy.

When I was starting to collect the 6″ Marvel Legends figures, the ones on my must-have list were Daredevil, Cyclops, Spider-Man, Captain America, Iron Man, Iron Fist and Dr. Strange. Yes, motherfucker, Dr. Stephen “Fucking Sorcerer Supreme” Strange. My wish list for Marvel Universe characters include Dr. Strange in a new costume, hopefully. I loved the animated Dr. Strange movie, regardless of the mucus-like thickness of incestuous innuendo. And I remember reading Dr. Strange: The Oath over four times. Dr. Strange beats out the Enchanted Kingdom wizard guy, Gandalf the Gray and Gandalf the White in keeping the magic where he is.

When Dr. Strange lost his Sorcerer Supreme gig, I was tweedling my thumbs in anticipation of what was next for him. With Brother Voodoo being responsible for the entire realm, Dr. Strange can just chill and fight demons at his leisure. That’s where Strange #1 comes in. Apparently, losing his Sorcerer Supreme job also cost him his medical license and cannot be called Dr. anymore.

Wordsmithing by Mark Waid
Pencils and inks by Emma Rios, Coloring by Christina Strain
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The Renaissance is Upon Us

For over six decades, Filipino Artists have been making jaws drop around the world, by creating and enhancing popular art thruout the world with a diverse yet distinct Pinoy visual style.

Many of our local talents have influenced the way local Komiks and international Comicbooks are drawn for over sixty years, and are now being given credit for breathing life into many unforgettable characters not only in comics, but in animation and gaming and films. In fact many have become Pop Icons for their role in the creation of many of today’s popular media. Name a popular movie, animation, comicbook, or game and you will most likely find Pinoys proudly lending their artistic talents to these efforts.

To be able to see many of these Influential Great Pinoy Artists of yesterday, today, and tomorrow – come together in one room for a historical charitable event – would have maybe remained a dream. But sometimes, and usually when we least expect it…

…DREAMS DO COME TRUE!

Get ready – the Renaissance is upon us!

Here’s their Facebook Event! You can log in and tell them you’re going.

Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths

DC has been kicking Marvel’s ass in the animated direct-to-DVD films department. New Frontier was the shiznit and Green Lantern: First Flight kicked major ass. Batman Superman was pretty gay. There are two upcoming films from both companies- Planet Hulk and Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths. One is more awesome than the other; here’s its trailer:

Mmmm… Delicious.

Comic of the Week: Assault on New Olympus #1

I realized I haven’t written anything in the last four days, so even though I’m half asleep and my brain’s fried to shit, I’ll try to come up with something decent.

Before I start talking about the issue for this week, I’d like to point out that Hercules has become one of my favorite characters. And I mean he’s up there with Iron Fist, Green Arrow, and Daredevil. The dude’s powerset is generic, yes, but it makes him all that more endearing to me. I’ll talk a little bit more of how frickin’ cool Herc is a little later because a lot of that becomes very evident in Assault on New Olympus #1.

Written by Greg Pak and Fred van Lente
Art by Rodney Buchemi (wonder if he’s related to Steve) on pencils and probably inks also since no one else is credited, Guillem Mari on colors
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Astonishing X-Men Motion Comics

I still haven’t acquired said motion comics as I am dead broke right now. To keep myself sane from wanting too goddamn much, I satisfy my Astonshing X-Men lust with the Rise Up music video and behind-the-scenes footage at Continuity Studios.

Man, I love that song. I need to download that thing and turn it into my ring tone or something.

Goliath Still For Sale!

I still haven’t sold Goliath. I just couldn’t find the time to. Anyway, I’m selling it off for P1700. Meet-ups are in Makati or Ortigas during weekends, or Valero St., Makati during weekdays, if you can manage that.

Goliath has never been removed from the box. I just took out the MU Iron Man. You get the comic in the box, as well.

You can contact me through comicology at i dot ph or my cellphone, 09228157452. You could also leave comments here.

Lan Medina at Comic Odyssey!

 Nuff said.

Office Toy Collecting Rule #1

The number one rule of toy collecting and making your little office space hell feel a little bit more like home is as follows:

“If you bring action figures to the office, they will not, under any circumstance, go untouched or unplayed with.”

So if you don’t want people playing with them, just don’t bring them to the office. Now, if you go to an office like mine, where creativity flows like the juices from a bride on her honeymoon, the folks who touch your shit get pretty crazy with them. In the middle of toiling under the grind of corporate rule, we find time to salvage what little enjoyment we can scrape from our depths of our barely living souls. In other words, during our downtime, we play with our toys. Like real men.

Poses and pictures were by Mr. Mico Miciano and Peter Juan. Mico is the poker playing taekwondo guy, and the latter is my boss, mentor and sexual favors customer, the social media manager guy.

Spider-Man (black suit, so you can tell he’s the evil one) with a nice swift kick to Iron Fist’s face
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Comic of the Week: Halloween Edition

And so continues our Zombietastic week, as it comes to a close because the new comics get released today. Mwahahahaha! As mentioned in Part 1 of our 2-part Halloween Edition of CotW, we’re going to take a look at Earth-based zombies trying to fuck Flash, The Atom and Mera over. Let the badassery and zombification BEGIN!

Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Ivan Reis on pencils, Oclair Albert and Joe Prado on inks, and Alex Sinclair on colors
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Superhero Alphabet

I just wanted to share this with everyone, because it is the epitome of the words “amazing” and “bad ass” and “educational.”

Superhero Alphabet! Click here or the image. Trust me, you’ll love it.

This was shared to be by Marco dela Torre.

Comic of the Week: Halloween Edition

Man, this article just does not want to be written. Started this November 1, but couldn’t finish. I tried the next day but I messed up and no draft was saved. Last night, the power went out and no draft was saved. Then today, as I was about to publish, the Internet cut out! GAH! This was supposed to be my Comicology Halloween special. It was supposed to be a two-comic Comic of the Week special.

No matter! We will continue with it anyway! So what if Halloween was what, 4 days ago? Instead of having a two-comic CotW, we’ll now make it into a two-parter, I’ll be taking a look at the two titles featuring the most zombies this side of the comic book universe that isn’t Marvel “Done-to-Death” Zombies - Green Lantern #47 and Blackest Night #4. Today, we look at Mr. Space Cowboy Hal Jordan’s solo title.

Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Doug Mahnke, Christian Alamy, Mahnke and Tom Nguyen with Mark Irwin and Randy Mayor (I’m gonna start to make it a habit to include the entire art team, and not just the guy who did the pencils)
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