I posted a review at the Comic Book Bin (which has FREE smart phone apps).
Monday, November 1, 2010
I Reads You Does Does its Second November
Welcome to I Reads You, my blog about the things I read (mostly comic books, comics, and related books) and about the things I come across worth reading (mostly about comic books, politics, and entertainment). Sometimes I’ll comment on “real” books and the mass media.
I’m Leroy Douresseaux, and I have another blog: http://www.negromancer.com/. I also write for the Comic Book Bin (which has smart phones apps).
All images appearing on this blog are copyright © and/or trademark their respective owners.
I’m Leroy Douresseaux, and I have another blog: http://www.negromancer.com/. I also write for the Comic Book Bin (which has smart phones apps).
All images appearing on this blog are copyright © and/or trademark their respective owners.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
I Reads You Review: HELLBOY II THE GOLDEN ARMY
Author: Robert Greenberger
Publishing Information: Dark Horse Books, paperback, 268 pages, $6.99 (US)
Ordering Numbers: ISBN: 978-1-59307-954-3 (ISBN-13)
You didn’t know it until now, but I thought Hellboy II: The Golden Army was the best comic book movie of 2008 – even better than The Dark Knight, which I was crazy about. I also consider Hellboy II to be the second best movie of 2008 (behind the brilliant WALL-E).
As is often the case with science fiction and fantasy movies, a novelization of Hellboy II’s screenplay accompanied the release of the film. Hellboy II The Golden Army may only be a tie-in novel, but it captures Hellboy II director, Guillermo del Toro’s uncompromising vision. Author Robert Greenberger adapts del Toro’s script (written from a story created by del Toro and Hellboy creator, Mike Mignola), transforming an unusual summer event movie into something like a summer potboiler novel.
Like the movie, the book opens with a young Hellboy enjoying a bedtime story told by his adoptive father, Trevor Broom. The story, a kind of fairy tail, involves an ancient war between mankind (the Sons of Adam) and magical creatures (the Sons of the Earth), started by Man’s greed. After the humans initially defeat the forces of the magical creatures, King Balor, the one-armed King of the Elves, commissions the goblins to build him an indestructible army. They do, the Golden Army, an indestructible mechanical army. The Golden Army devastates the human forces to the point that the bloodshed leads Balor to call a truce. Mankind agrees to stay in their cities, while the forests would belong to the magical creatures.
Cut to modern times, and the truce is broken. Balor’s son, Prince Nuada, declares war on humanity and searches for the missing pieces of a golden crown that will give the wearer control of the Golden Army, which slumbers in a secret location. All that stands between annihilation and mankind is Hellboy and the Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense (B.P.R.D.), and both are in a state of turmoil.
Hellboy and his girlfriend, Liz, are having relationship issues. Hellboy and Tom Manning, the F.B.I.’s liaison to the B.P.R.D., are clashing because Hellboy wants the world to know that he exists, while Manning lives to keep Hellboy’s existence a secret from the public at large. However, Hellboy and company meet Nuada’s identical twin sister, Nuala, which forces them to focus on Nuada’s war. Meanwhile, amphibian B.P.R.D. agent, Abe Sapien surprisingly has romantic feelings for Nuala, and Washington D.C. sends a new agent, the ectoplasmic medium Johann Krauss, to take command of the B.P.R.D. Now, these outcasts must come together to stop the unstoppable – the Golden Army.
Using straight-forward and rather plain prose, Robert Greenberg conjures the creepy Gothic and weird rococo world of Hellboy II – from the exciting action to the fantastic realms and peculiar creatures that inhabit them. For anyone who has seen the film, the novelization is a good way to relive the fun. This isn’t a great fantasy novel; it is simply something that readers don’t always find – a prose adaptation that is worthy of the original film.
Comicpalooza to Benefit Hero Initiative
Press release:
Comicpalooza National Comic Book Live Art Fest to Benefit Hero Initiative
Houston, TX – Oct. 7, 2010– The Comicpalooza National Live Art Fest is a charity event in which comic book and manga artists across the nation will flash their mad art skills to the whole world by drawing, sketching, and painting while the public watches. The gathered comic and anime fans can bid on their favorite pieces of art as they are finished. Proceeds from the auction will benefit the Hero Initiative.
The ‘Fest will take place simultaneously in all participating cities on January 22, 2011. These events will be held with the cooperation of arts organizations in each community. Currently, confirmed cities include Houston, Austin, Dallas, and Baton Rouge. Organizations that wish to participate in the Comcipalooza National Live Art Fest may request more information by sending an email to LiveArt@comicpalooza.com. Comicpalooza will accept additional arts organizations as partners in cities until Friday, Dec. 3, 2010.
The Comicpalooza National Live Art Fest is sponsored in part by Blue Line Pro, one of the largest manufacturers of professional comic art supplies.
The Hero Initiative is a publicly supported not-for-profit 501 (c) (3) corporation created to provide assistance to yesterdays' creators who may need emergency medical aid, financial support for essentials of life, and an avenue back into paying work. It's a chance for all of us to give back something to the people who have given us so much enjoyment.
Comicpalooza (Trademark pending) is an annual multi-genre convention held in Houston, Texas, and features comics, sci-fi, anime, horror, steampunk, New Media, film, and celebrities. The next Comicpalooza will be held March 26-28, 2010 at the George R. Brown Convention Center. Sponsors for Comicpalooza include the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Houston Museum of Natural Science, the Museum of Fine Arts Houston, FUNimation, and the Southwest Alternate Media Project (SWAMP).
Startling Events, LLC is the organizing events company for Comicpalooza. Startling Events, LLC is incorporated in Katy, Texas, a suburb of Houston, Texas.
Comicpalooza National Live Art Fest to Benefit Hero Initiative
Event name: Comicpalooza
Event date: Jan 22, 2011
Convention date: May 27-29, 2011
http://www.comicpalooza.com/
www.twitter.com/comicpalooza
www.facebook.com/comicpalooza
Comicpalooza National Comic Book Live Art Fest to Benefit Hero Initiative
Houston, TX – Oct. 7, 2010– The Comicpalooza National Live Art Fest is a charity event in which comic book and manga artists across the nation will flash their mad art skills to the whole world by drawing, sketching, and painting while the public watches. The gathered comic and anime fans can bid on their favorite pieces of art as they are finished. Proceeds from the auction will benefit the Hero Initiative.
The ‘Fest will take place simultaneously in all participating cities on January 22, 2011. These events will be held with the cooperation of arts organizations in each community. Currently, confirmed cities include Houston, Austin, Dallas, and Baton Rouge. Organizations that wish to participate in the Comcipalooza National Live Art Fest may request more information by sending an email to LiveArt@comicpalooza.com. Comicpalooza will accept additional arts organizations as partners in cities until Friday, Dec. 3, 2010.
The Comicpalooza National Live Art Fest is sponsored in part by Blue Line Pro, one of the largest manufacturers of professional comic art supplies.
The Hero Initiative is a publicly supported not-for-profit 501 (c) (3) corporation created to provide assistance to yesterdays' creators who may need emergency medical aid, financial support for essentials of life, and an avenue back into paying work. It's a chance for all of us to give back something to the people who have given us so much enjoyment.
Comicpalooza (Trademark pending) is an annual multi-genre convention held in Houston, Texas, and features comics, sci-fi, anime, horror, steampunk, New Media, film, and celebrities. The next Comicpalooza will be held March 26-28, 2010 at the George R. Brown Convention Center. Sponsors for Comicpalooza include the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Houston Museum of Natural Science, the Museum of Fine Arts Houston, FUNimation, and the Southwest Alternate Media Project (SWAMP).
Startling Events, LLC is the organizing events company for Comicpalooza. Startling Events, LLC is incorporated in Katy, Texas, a suburb of Houston, Texas.
Comicpalooza National Live Art Fest to Benefit Hero Initiative
Event name: Comicpalooza
Event date: Jan 22, 2011
Convention date: May 27-29, 2011
http://www.comicpalooza.com/
www.twitter.com/comicpalooza
www.facebook.com/comicpalooza
DarkBrain Seeks Submissions
Press release:
DARKBRAIN - A NEW PLATFORM FOR INDEPENDENT COMICS SEEKS SUBMISSIONS
October 26, 2010: DarkBrain.com is an edgy web comic studio that produces graphic novels (PG-13 and R-rated) with voice-over narration and music. With over 300 pages of content, all free for readers, DarkBrain has attracted over 22,000 readers in the last two months alone with its recent release of “Church of One” featuring the voice talents of Tabitha Stevens, Raylene and Tony Campos. Now, DarkBrain is looking for some Independent Comics to partner with.
DarkBrain is looking for titles that fit our brand - edgy sci-fi/ fantasy /drama /horror – all with stories that will entice and amaze people. All stories must have an R-rated version that we tone down for our pg-13 readers. Each title that is selected must match the quality of art of our current titles, and be unique and interesting. DarkBrain is looking for a run of issues to appear on DarkBrain.com, and we will add in our voice talent, original music, flash assembly, and comic hosting. Independent Comic producers can have their titles already in print and they will retain all rights to their property.
Through this new partnership, accepted web comic stories will then be exposed to thousands of new users, for free, and include link-outs and promotional information for the Independent Comic partner. This is a great opportunity to gain exposure and to showcase the comics in a new and exciting format, unlike any other web comics. Independent properties with merchandise, printed issues, websites and other web comic versions are welcome as it helps maximize the value of the relationship for the Independent comic owner.
All applicants are expected to have read DarkBrain comics and understand our brand. All partners must have existing art and stories for review of the series being presented - and should be able to sustain a run of 4 or more issues, with approximately 20 pages each issue. We will also accept one-shot issues if the story and art are incredible. The partnership is a shared relationship where the Independent partner funds and provides the art and script and DarkBrain funds and provides the voice, music, flash, script editing and hosting. Both parties share the royalties of the web comics. DarkBrain has only a few slots open for new titles in the 2011 schedule and we are going to be very selective on which partners we choose.
Interested parties can contact AndrewZar@DarkBrain.com.
DARKBRAIN - A NEW PLATFORM FOR INDEPENDENT COMICS SEEKS SUBMISSIONS
October 26, 2010: DarkBrain.com is an edgy web comic studio that produces graphic novels (PG-13 and R-rated) with voice-over narration and music. With over 300 pages of content, all free for readers, DarkBrain has attracted over 22,000 readers in the last two months alone with its recent release of “Church of One” featuring the voice talents of Tabitha Stevens, Raylene and Tony Campos. Now, DarkBrain is looking for some Independent Comics to partner with.
DarkBrain is looking for titles that fit our brand - edgy sci-fi/ fantasy /drama /horror – all with stories that will entice and amaze people. All stories must have an R-rated version that we tone down for our pg-13 readers. Each title that is selected must match the quality of art of our current titles, and be unique and interesting. DarkBrain is looking for a run of issues to appear on DarkBrain.com, and we will add in our voice talent, original music, flash assembly, and comic hosting. Independent Comic producers can have their titles already in print and they will retain all rights to their property.
Through this new partnership, accepted web comic stories will then be exposed to thousands of new users, for free, and include link-outs and promotional information for the Independent Comic partner. This is a great opportunity to gain exposure and to showcase the comics in a new and exciting format, unlike any other web comics. Independent properties with merchandise, printed issues, websites and other web comic versions are welcome as it helps maximize the value of the relationship for the Independent comic owner.
All applicants are expected to have read DarkBrain comics and understand our brand. All partners must have existing art and stories for review of the series being presented - and should be able to sustain a run of 4 or more issues, with approximately 20 pages each issue. We will also accept one-shot issues if the story and art are incredible. The partnership is a shared relationship where the Independent partner funds and provides the art and script and DarkBrain funds and provides the voice, music, flash, script editing and hosting. Both parties share the royalties of the web comics. DarkBrain has only a few slots open for new titles in the 2011 schedule and we are going to be very selective on which partners we choose.
Interested parties can contact AndrewZar@DarkBrain.com.
Champion City Comics Celebrates Anniversary
Press release:
Champion City Comics Celebrates Their One Year Anniversary
Kalamazoo, MI, October 29, 2010 – Champion City Comics was launched in October of 2009 and featured one webcomic with a small following. One year later, Champion City Comics features nine webcomics along with an impressive worldwide readership.
Founded by TonyDoug Wright, Champion City Comics is a webcomics community fueled by a do-it-yourself philosophy. Our genres include gritty crime tales (The End of Paradise, The Champion City Fire, Point of Conflict, and 4x4), comedies (Phoebe & Eddie and Johnny Knuckles), superhero tales (Vigilance), and science-fiction tales (Naira and Westwood).
The success of Champion City Comics is due to the hard work and dedication of the following writers and artists: A. Kaviraj, Joseph Haemmerle, Victor Pozzi, Joe ‘Pohgo’ Pruitt, Andrew J, Michael Watson, Giovanni Ballati, and Christopher Alvarez.
By the end of this year, Champion City Comics will launch two webcomics titled …And We Formed A Band (A rock and roll extravaganza) and Day 165 (An Afghanistan War story).
We also would like to thank our loyal readers and we promise to deliver more great webcomics in the future.
All web-comics are available for view at http://www.championcitycomics.com/.
Champion City Comics Celebrates Their One Year Anniversary
Kalamazoo, MI, October 29, 2010 – Champion City Comics was launched in October of 2009 and featured one webcomic with a small following. One year later, Champion City Comics features nine webcomics along with an impressive worldwide readership.
Founded by TonyDoug Wright, Champion City Comics is a webcomics community fueled by a do-it-yourself philosophy. Our genres include gritty crime tales (The End of Paradise, The Champion City Fire, Point of Conflict, and 4x4), comedies (Phoebe & Eddie and Johnny Knuckles), superhero tales (Vigilance), and science-fiction tales (Naira and Westwood).
The success of Champion City Comics is due to the hard work and dedication of the following writers and artists: A. Kaviraj, Joseph Haemmerle, Victor Pozzi, Joe ‘Pohgo’ Pruitt, Andrew J, Michael Watson, Giovanni Ballati, and Christopher Alvarez.
By the end of this year, Champion City Comics will launch two webcomics titled …And We Formed A Band (A rock and roll extravaganza) and Day 165 (An Afghanistan War story).
We also would like to thank our loyal readers and we promise to deliver more great webcomics in the future.
All web-comics are available for view at http://www.championcitycomics.com/.
Help "Essex County" Make the Top 10
Press release:
ESSEX COUNTY named one of Canada Reads' Top 40 Essential Canadian Novels of the Decade!
Now we need your help to push it over the top!
Jeff Lemire's Essex County trilogy, now collected into a single beautiful volume, is more than just a great graphic novel. It's a love letter to the farms of Essex County where Jeff grew up, to the wider province of Ontario in both its urban and rural communities, and to the nation of Canada as a whole -- its wintry cold and human warmth, its love of hockey, and its rich history.
That's why it's been named one of the 40 novels honored by the CBC's prestigious Canada Reads program -- i.e. the Top 40 Essential Canadian Novels of the Decade! And that's not all: you can head to the Canada Reads web site, now through November 7, and vote for your pick for the final Top 10 list! Anyone with a web browser is eligible to vote, so head over there, check out all the great nominees, and make your voices heard!
Let's rally as a comics community to put a graphic novel in the Top 10! Vote here: http://www.cbc.ca/books/canadareads/
ESSEX COUNTY named one of Canada Reads' Top 40 Essential Canadian Novels of the Decade!
Now we need your help to push it over the top!
Jeff Lemire's Essex County trilogy, now collected into a single beautiful volume, is more than just a great graphic novel. It's a love letter to the farms of Essex County where Jeff grew up, to the wider province of Ontario in both its urban and rural communities, and to the nation of Canada as a whole -- its wintry cold and human warmth, its love of hockey, and its rich history.
That's why it's been named one of the 40 novels honored by the CBC's prestigious Canada Reads program -- i.e. the Top 40 Essential Canadian Novels of the Decade! And that's not all: you can head to the Canada Reads web site, now through November 7, and vote for your pick for the final Top 10 list! Anyone with a web browser is eligible to vote, so head over there, check out all the great nominees, and make your voices heard!
Let's rally as a comics community to put a graphic novel in the Top 10! Vote here: http://www.cbc.ca/books/canadareads/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)