Comics News: IDW and Tom Beland Unleash Chicacabra

IDW and Tom Beland Unleash Chicacabra

Chupacabras, Vejigantes, Fistfights, and Weed!
 

San Diego, CA (March 26, 2014) – Tom Beland, best known for his multiple Eisner-nominated seriesTrue Story, Swear to God, brings his unique storytelling to IDW this June in an all-new graphic novel series, Chicacabra.
 
Chicacabra is a story infused with the humanity for which Tom’s work is so rightly acclaimed, but this time, Tom has written and illustrated an all-new cast of very human characters in a more supernatural setting.
 
“Tom Beland’s work is the perfect mix of comic-book storytelling with expressive art, interesting characters, and a resonant, emotional core,” said Chris Ryall, IDW’s Chief Creative Officer-Editor-in-Chief, “and I couldn’t be happier to see him apply those skills in this new way on Chicacabra. Tom’s books have always been the kind of thing you want to hand someone, whether they’re new to comics or a veteran reader who thinks they’ve seen it all. There’s something for everyone in his work, and never more so than with Chicacabra, which pushes into the supernatural while still staying a fundamentally grounded, human tale.”
 
In Chicacabra, you would think being a young woman in high school would come with more than enough drama, but for Isabel Sanchez that is a mere drop in the bucket of her life. On the outside, Isabel looks and acts like your average Puerto Rican girl but after a family tragedy and then a mysterious incident she finds herself with a monster capable of great brutality living inside her. But is it her friend or foe?
 
Isabel will have to learn to life with a killing machine inside her and navigate high school in this first in a series of planned Chicacabra graphic novels. And heads will roll, to say the least!
 
"I think people will relate to Isabel. I think we all have a chupacabra in us in some way. There's fear, doubt, many things that you hold deep inside of yourself,” said Tom Beland, “This is about two souls working together in a relationship that could be damaging as well as healing. I love making it. To a degree it was as emotional as making TSSTG."
 
Chicacabra will be available in a regular edition and a special version with an alternate cover only available at the Puerto Rico Comic-Con, May 24-25 at the Puerto Rico Convention Center.
 
Chicacabra, a 200-page, black & white, $17.99 trade paperback, debuts in June 2014. Diamond Order Code APR140447, ISBN 978-1-63140-011-7

Comics News: Diskordia - Feels Like Falling Needs Your Help on Indiegogo Now!

The fundraising campaign for Diskordia: Feels Like Falling is live on Indiegogo. Funds will go toward printing a run of deluxe Hardcovers collecting volume 1; the first 9 issues of the series that were initially published on the creator Rivenis’ blog http://diskordiacomic.blogspot.com/and later on Comixology.

‘Everything you think you know about the world is at worst a lie and at best simply a pale facet of a truth so terrifying and overwhelming that madness is preferable.’

Diskordia is a surreal dark fantasy comic that explores themes such as the nature of reality, consciousness and self-determination. It does so with equal doses of hilarity and mind numbing horror.

The main story follows Jackal Black, a cynical and sarcastic young man as he is yanked from his dull life into the bizarre dreamtime; a transit hub between dimensions. He will travel through these strange and varied realms encountering curiously odd creatures and terrifying foes while discovering the true horrific and baffling nature of the world he thought he knew.

The comic is a very personal work of creator Rivenis who has been working on the series since 2009. It is his attempt to interpret the human condition and force us to question our reality as conscious beings.

The saga has developed a small cult following due to its unapologetic nature, unique visuals and rampant unpredictability. It has been compared to other works in this vein such as Neil Gaiman’s Sandman, the work of H.P Lovecraft, Lewis Caroll’s Alice in Wonderland and most recently Pendleton Ward’s Adventure time cartoon series.

The hardcover will be 330 pages with standard comic dimensions and sewn binding. The campaign is seeking to raise funds to cover the cost of printing a run of between 500 and 1500 copies as well as shipping.

Campaign link: http://igg.me/at/Diskordia/x/6161108

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/diskordiacomic

Comixology link: http://www.comixology.com/Diskordia/comics-series/10575

Creator’s Website: http://rivenis.net/

Comics News: Save Reality From Thieves of Eden

SAVING REALITY

From the Enemies of Life

New Comic THIEVES of EDEN takes it on!

(Richmond, VA, February 1, 2014) Robert Simon Siegel announces the launch of the Thieves of Eden graphic novel at http://www.thievesofeden.com. 

THIEVES of EDEN is a quantum thriller to SAVE REALITY! This high concept story exploded into comic life when artist Chris Hopkins met SCI-FI writer Robert Simon Siegel. Issue #1 is now available at the website, where readers can also see a free teaser and subscribe to this exciting new series.

With eye-popping art, the story unveils a “who done it mystery” that connects new sciences like bio-physics (how human energy fields operate as cellphones) and rare knowledge from Siegel’s personal trainings with authentic Native Medicine Men, Chinese Qigong (Energy) Masters and other amazing lineage holders of wisdom traditions. 

“My goal” Siegel says, “is to usher in genuine wisdom to illuminate the treasures of different cultures, traditions and peoples from ancient to futuristic now needed to "win" THE GAME.  We ignite with humor, outrageous art, wild story twists and beautiful characters. I want people to be curious. Is THE GAME real?”

Awareness becomes action that unites people and purpose as four characters meet and discover they are a game – THE GAME – for the very life of our planet. Their opponents, with a 6,000 year advantage, are about to trigger Earth’s end with a final environmental death clench for their game-winning move.

To quickly stop these Enemies of Life, the four must cooperate and combine rare knowledge closely guarded by elders in their respective sacred traditions. They must connect ancient wisdom puzzles with cutting-edge science to form an unusual energy device, the source of unexplained “miracles” hidden to all but an elite few throughout history.

 Who blocked this knowledge and why?

THIEVES of EDEN is a QUANTUM THRILLER about REALITY. We share this reality. It’s now time to SAVE IT!

Want more information visit www.thievesofeden.com

Friend us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Thieves-of-Eden/154896994559721

Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thievesofeden

Comics News: THE DREAMER Returns This March From IDW

The Dreamer Volume 3 coming March 2014

     IDW announced  that the next release in the graphic novel series “The Dreamer” will hit stores in March 2014. The Dreamer Volume 3: The Battle of Harlem Heights(ISBN 9781613778869) is the third and final book in the story arc The Consequence of Nathan Hale and will be available in comic book stores as well as book trade venues. The Dreamer has been nominated for numerous Harvey Awards and is a fan favorite among comic book and mainstream readers alike. Print versions of books 1 and 2 are still available in both print and digital formats.

Innes explains “You don't need to be a history buff or comic book fan to love my book, The Dreamer. The reason the book resonates with readers is it's filled with romance, action and adventure that anyone can relate to. The fact that much of this actually happened is only backdrop to the story, but it makes it much richer.”

What others have said about The Dreamer:

“There is not a single misstep in the entire book. To say I’m hooked is a huge understatement. I’m buying this volume, the previous volume and will preorder the next volume.”  —FirstComicNews.com

“That this beautiful work is paired to a pitch-perfect story at once epic and intimate, both serious and playful, that straddles a teenage present and our nation’s most dramatic past is a testament to a creativity that knows no bounds.” —Michael Frost Beckner, producer of Spy Games

“The best books in life are the one you’re surprised by — the ones where you see the cover and think, “Huh. This looks cool.”…and then you don’t come up for air until you’ve read all the way through to the end. That’s what happened with Lora Innes’s The Dreamer.” —Fantasy Magazine

Book 4 in the series is planned for 2016.

About The Dreamer Volume 3:

Bea Whaley's vivid dreams about the American Revolution continue in this all-new graphic novel! In the 21st Century Bea's friends and family begin to suspect that something is wrong, but Bea knows she cannot tell them about her dreams. As tensions rise, she struggles to return to the 18th century, where her friends' lives are threatened by the ever growing war - and this time, she just might be too late to save them.

Visit www.thedreamercomic.com for more information.

Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Dreamer-Comic/146005828774488

Follow Creator Lora Innes on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LoraInnes

Comics News: Kickstart Windsor McCay's LITTLE NEMO IN SLUMBERLAND

The masterpiece works of Winsor McCay LITTLE NEMO IN SLUMBERLAND collected in two affordable editions.

Winsor McCay was an unparalleled genius who spawned an entire sub-culture that  grew into something that now pervades the worldwide culture of comic books and cartoons.

What began as a labor of love for me as a comic fan and originally published in a limited edition hardcover collection of the entire run of Little Nemo in Slumberland. This new set of softcover editions represents a collection never equaled before or since in its comprehensiveness.

Two  large format soft covers which encompass the entire run of Little Nemo in the first part of the 20th century including the short lived return  of the strip in the late teens and twenties.

Included here is every known episode from October 13th, 1905, the very first, until August 15, 1909, never before published in complete collected form.  In addition, another first: All forty-three episodes of McCay’s first color Sunday feature, Tales of the Jungle Imps, As published in the Cincinnati Enquirer in 1903. Bonus promotional material includes playbills, posters, Little Nemo merchandise pics  and more. This is the most comprehensive collection ever of the material.

What is included as rewards:

LITTLE NEMO IN SLUMBERLAND VOL. 1: SC – Full Color. Creators: Winsor McCay. Description: Available again. The most comprehensive collection of the landmark comic strip by the legendary Winsor McCay. The first of two volumes in a full-color collection of the signature strip from America’s greatest comic illustrator of all time. It includes rare Nemo promo art, the series that featured many of Nemo’s characters first – “Tales of The Jungle Imp” in color, and that wonderful Nemo strip from 1905-1909. 300 pages. (9×12)

LITTLE NEMO IN SLUMBERLAND, Volume 2 :SC Edition  Creators: Winsor McCay

Description:  continues the amazing adventures of Little Nemo. This gorgeous book, in a keepsake softcover edition, features full color adventures of /Little Nemo in Slumberland  from 1909-1914, and the previously never fully collected 1924-1926 run, with a preponderance presented in full color. 300 pages. (9×12)

Also available are limited leather bound editions and a box set.

We are already a past a quarter way to the final funding goal! Thanks to all those who are currently backing this landmark project!

Now on Kickstarter until February 1^st 2014

Comics News: New Age of Bronze Continues Trojan War

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NEW AGE OF BRONZE GRAPHIC NOVEL CONTINUES THE TROJAN WAR

Berkeley, CA—Oct. 18, 2013 Image Comics announces Age of Bronze: Betrayal Part Two, the new book in Eric Shanower’s award-winning Age of Bronze graphic novel series. The book compiles issues 28 - 33 of the critically-acclaimed Age of Bronze comic book series, which tells the complete story of the Trojan War. Age of Bronze: Betrayal Part Two retails for $28.99 hardcover and $18.99 paperback. Find it at your local bookstore (hardcover ISBN 978-1-60706-757-3, paperback ISBN 978-1-60706-758-0), in your local comic book store (call 1-888-COMIC-BOOK for the store nearest you), or online at www.age-of-bronze.com.

As the Greek and Trojan armies clash, the action begins immediately where the previous volume left off. It’s the first battle in a war that will last for ten long years. Achilles fights Hektor with sword and spear while from high on the walls of Troy Helen watches warriors fall dying into the dust.

Inside the city of Troy elaborate schemes of royal intrigue play out. Pandarus manipulates his niece Cressida into becoming the lover of the Trojan prince Troilus. But when the Greeks take Cressida prisoner Pandarus’s plan blows up in their faces. The players scramble for safety, but not all of them can find it.

One of the fascinating aspects of Age of Bronze: Betrayal Part Two is how graphic novelist Eric Shanower adapts earlier tellings of the Trojan War into his story. Betrayal Part Two includes Shanower’s version of a William Shakespeare play. Shanower explains, “Shakespeare’s Troilus and Cressida from 1602 is considered one of his problem plays. The scene when Cressida meets the Greek leaders and they take turns kissing her is powerful, but many productions make Cressida a willing participant. I couldn’t see her doing that, so I found a way to stay true to Shakespeare and true to the characters at the same time.”

Shanower’s elegant pen-and-ink drawings and deft weaving of the story bring Age of Bronze: Betrayal Part Two to brilliant life. Readers will thrill to the action and suspense in this newest book in the series that Salon.com has called “fit for the gods.”

For more information see http://www.age-of-bronze.com and https://www.imagecomics.com/comics/releases/age-of-bronze-vol.-3b-betrayal-part-two-hc.

Image Comics is a comics and graphic novels publisher formed in 1992 by a collective of best-selling artists. Since that time, Image has gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the United States. There are currently four partners in Image Comics (Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri and Jim Valentino), and Image is currently divided into four major houses (Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline and Image Central). Image comics and graphic novels cover nearly every genre, sub-genre and style imaginable, offering science fiction, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. Visitwww.imagecomics.com.

Troubleshooters, Incorporated: Night Stalkings release info

Supernatural Superhero-Team-for-Hire Takes On Its First Case  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Leaky faucet? Call a plumber. For real problems, call Troubleshooters, Incorporated, the world’s first supernatural superhero-team-for-hire. For the right price, Silver Oak (a wizard), Night Stalker (a werewolf), Yolanda (a sorceress), Shadowmist (a female ninja), and Lightshow (a hi-tech-armored roadie) are ready to take your case. And you can meet the team right now in their graphic novel debut, courtesy of independent publishing house StarWarp Concepts. TROUBLESHOOTERS, INCORPORATED: NIGHT STALKINGS (ISBN:978-0-9884429-2-4) is written by the husband-and-wife team of bestselling author Richard C. White (The Chronicles of the Sea Dragon Special; Star Trek S.C.E.: Echoes of Coventry) and Joni M. White, with pencil art by Reggie Golden and inks by Bill Lavin and Randy Zimmerman. The Troubleshooters’ first adventure involves protecting a millionaire from a trio of evil spirits—but as it turns out, the spirits are the least of the group’s problems when a full-fledged demon arrives to complicate matters. Troubleshooters, Incorporated: Night Stalkings—which also features cover art by indie creator Richard Dominguez (El Gato Negro), and pinups by Steve Lieber (Hawkeye), Jeff Parker (The Interman), and Gary Thomas Washington (Speed Racer)—is currently available for order from online and brick-and-mortar bookstores and comic shops. Its e-book edition is available through digital comic distributor DriveThru Comics, as well as from the StarWarp Concepts webstore. For more information on the company and its titles, please visit www.StarwarpConcepts.com. About the Graphic Novel: Troubleshooters, Incorporated: Night Stalkings Written by Richard C. White and Joni M. White Art by Reggie Golden, Bill Lavin, and Randy Zimmerman                        Published by StarWarp Concepts            96 pages, trade paperback (5.5” x 8.5”) U.S. $11.95 print • $4.99 digital ISBN: 978-0-9884429-2-4 (trade paperback) ISBN: 978-0-9884429-3-1 (digital) About the Creative Team: Richard C. White is the bestselling author of the novels Gauntlet: Dark Legacy: Paths of Evil and Star Trek S.C.E.: Echoes of Coventry; the e-book fantasy series For a Few Gold Pieces More; and the digital comic The Chronicles of the Sea Dragon Special. His short fiction has appeared in the anthologies The Ultimate Hulk and Doctor Who: Short Trips: The Quality of Leadership. Joni M. White is a co-creator of Troubleshooters, Incorporated and an accomplished amateur author in her own right, but these days she spends most of her time as a computer scientist by day and a jewelry maker by night. Reggie Golden’s debut as a comic book penciler came with the publication of Troubleshooters, Incorporated #1 in 1995. Prior to that, his inking work appeared in Forbidden Fruit’s limited series Metallica (not to be confused with the heavy metal band). Randy Zimmerman is the editor and co-creator of Flint [Michigan] Comix & Entertainment, a free-to-readers comic newspaper. Before that he created the independent comic Tales From the Aniverse, and was a writer and artist for such titles as Arrow Comics’ The Dead and Caliber Comics’ The War of the Worlds. TROUBLESHOOTERS, INCORPORATED ™ and © Richard C. White. All rights reserved. #         #         #

Note for publication: Attached pictures are to be used free of restriction but only for the use of this press-release. For more information, please contact Steven A. Roman at starwarpco@aol.com

Comics News: Indie Creator Ryan Colucci Decides R.E.M. Needs a Kickstart

GLEN HEAD, NY (September 11, 2013)  Following the success of his critically acclaimed werewolf spaghetti-western, Harbor Moon, Indie graphic novel creator, Ryan Colucci, proudly announces the completion of R.E.M., a mind-bending thriller written/created by Colucci and beautifully illustrated by Zsombor Huska.   R.E.M. is a 176 page Hardcover Original Graphic Novel about Michael Letto, a brilliant but paranoid neuroscientist. Since his first and only love died, he’s lived behind a series of locks, consumed with solving the mystery of sleep. Based on the principles of yoga, Michael invents a chair that enables one to attain a full night’s sleep in a matter of minutes. When his theories catch the attention of the military and a religious order that wants to use his research to attain enlightenment, a dangerous cat and mouse begins as Michael’s world deteriorates. It's a psychological thriller with elements of science fiction and film noir. The underpinnings were inspired by my own beliefs in (im)mortality, love and faith and personal research into a sleep chamber… while the framing and look of the story was inspired by film noir from the 50’s. All limited Kickstarter copies will be signed and numbered (numbers starting based on pledge date/time). For the past two years we worked from the script stage to the final panels and lettered pages. 176 pages is a lot of ink, but this is how Zsombor takes care of business...  The team behind R.E.M. launched its Kickstarter campaign just 3 weeks ago to bring the striking black and white hardcover to print, and has currently exceeded its stated goal of $7,000.  A trailer from the book can be viewed on the Kickstarter page and features a brilliant score by Grammy nominated DJ, Dirty South.  With a successful campaign on Kickstarter, R.E.M. will make its debut at New York Comic-con 2013 in October.

Help HARTSOE STUDIOS Bring HELL RIOT: ZOMBIE HUNTER X To Life

Designer, model and now horror writer, Jennifer J. Hartsoe enters the comic book industry with her debut graphic novel a zombie apocalypse tale called Hell Riot: Zombie Hunter X! The story and characters created by her husband, indie comic legend, Everette Hartsoe ( creator of Razor) for their new comic company HARTSOE STUDIOS!

Hell Riot is the story about a group of women that must set aside their differences and come together to stop a hoard of zombies from taking over their small town of Hell Riot Nevada, after most of the men have been eaten or turned. This 48-page graphic novel will be in full color and feature art by Everette Hartsoe and Erik Williams.

This book comes hot on the heels of Everette Hartsoe’s successful RAZOR: SCARS Kickstarter campaign which brought in enough funding to develop a new universe of Hartsoe creations for 2014-15.

“This is a dream come true for me to have a project I can really cut loose on and show my talent as a writer as well as model for the main character in the book, Jenni Tonic, A tough as nails, ex-roller derby champion, stuck in the wrong place at the wrong time. This will rock your socks off!

Jennifer J. Hartsoe will launch via Kickstarter the new graphic novel and hopes the reaction to the project will enable the story to continue and possibly create a online show if pledges exceed expectations.

KICKSTARTER LINK: www.kickstarter.com/projects/217458266/everette-hartsoes-hell-riot-zombie-hunter-x

Comic News: Veteran Creator Beth Sotelo Kickstarts Her Graphic Novel "GRUMP"

Creator Beth Sotelo Debuts “Grump” Graphic Novel On Kickstarter

Press Release

07-25-13

Veteran comic book colorist, Beth Sotelo, renowned for her work on such titles as Michael Turner’s Fathom, Soulfire and Shrugged for Aspen Comics over a ten year span, has developed and introduced her own new original series entitled “Grump”, launching recently on Kickstarter.com with a debut 40-page fully illustrated graphic novel first -offering. A longtime passion project for Sotelo for many years, the creator describes “Grump”:

“Most neighborhoods have that one crazy house. Its wood is rotting and weeds are flourishing. No matter what time of day it is, it remains in the shadows. Maybe you aren't afraid of that house, but you definitely won't be trick-or-treating there--just to be safe.

That's where Grump lives.

Grump doesn't realize he is all alone, yet he knows that something isn't right. Eventually, it takes a series of unusual circumstances for Grump to finally meet some neighborhood kids outside his comfort zone—and soon his world is completely shaken!

Like it or not, Grump. You're going outside!”

“Grump” is created, written and fully illustrated by Beth Sotelo and the Kickstarter for the debut graphic novel is currently live now to pledge support. Incentive packages include PDF copies of the graphic novel, iron-on patches of the “Grump” characters, original hand-drawn “Grump” trading cards as well as “Grump” mini-prints by comic creators Joe Benitez, Keu Cha, Peter Steigerwald, Kizer Stone and Sotelo. The “Grump” graphic novel can be found at the following link:

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/sotelo/grump-the-loneliest-kid-on-your-block-until-now

For more information of the “Grump” Kickstarter, please check www.bethsotelo.com/grump

Comic News: Real Interface Studios And Visionborne Announce The Release of Pandora End of Days Animated Comic

REAL INTERFACE STUDIOS AND VISIONBORNE ANNOUNCE THE RELEASE OF PANDORA END OF DAYS AS AN ANIMATED COMIC BOOK MANGA APP FOR THE iPAD.

June 12, 2013 (New Jersey) Real Interface Studios and Visionborne are collaborating with the use of Airmid technology to produce animated comics for the iPad.

PANDORA End of Days is a graphic novel mini series with a very unique twist to the zombie survival-horror genre. 

The violent outbreak, illustrated with gorgeous, manga-style artwork by Jin Song Kim, isn’t started by some mysterious virus this time. Instead, the story charges into the consequences of combining man's reckless nature with archeology, which results in an ancient plague being released upon the modern world in PANDORA: End of Days.

FANGORIA Reviews: "Author Peter J. Ang keeps his three subplots running at full speed, switching back and forth between the perspectives. This gives an omniscient point-of-view to the narrative and provides suspense as to how the protagonists will finally come together. The excellent artwork by Jin Song Kim captures the tension and panic. Readers should pay close attention to the distinct zombie design and transformation.

PANDORA: END OF DAYS is an action-filled delight...

- Jorge Solis, Fangoria Magazine.

“We’re very excited about the possibility of reaching so many people all over the world with these animated comics, available in multiple languages.“ explains publisher Peter J. Ang, “Comic books being read in tablet devices is a revolution in the industry that is exploding, and our Studio wants to be part of it! Visionborne is allowing us to let readers experience comics in a way that was not possible before.”

“In bringing cutting edge and innovative technology to comics, we are striving to take the readers on a new journey. It is our belief that Real Interface Studios will allow us to clearly showcase the best of our know-how and to create a unique experience in the world of comics,” Francesco Scrufari, President of Visionborne, points out.

Visionborne website

www.visionborne.com

PANDORA: End of Days #1 animated preview link here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JiJIsLU2f8M

PANDORA: End of Days #1 iTunes store link here:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pandora-end-of-days-episode-1/id615349118

ABOUT REAL INTERFACE STUDIOS:

Real Interface Studios is a digital comic book and graphic design studio in north New Jersey, USA.  The studio is always on the lookout for potential collaborators and other talents who would like to join us to ensure a much greater potential for success in every project.

Check out available graphic novel titles at: RealinterfaceStudios.com ​

ABOUT VISIONBORNE:

Visionborne Inc., is a visual effects and 3D animation company headquartered in Los Angeles, California. By carefully combining technology, creativity and tradition, Visionborne strives to present new and innovative means to enjoy creative content, and to generate cinema-grade 3D animation at a fraction of the common costs. The company also created Airmid, a ground breaking platform devised to enhance 'static' media content with finely adapted audiovisual details, in a format suitable for iOS and Android devices.

Comic News: Acclaimed Graphic Novel The Leaning Girl Needs A Kickstart

INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED GRAPHIC NOVEL THE LEANING GIRL

Launches in the United States Via Kickstarter

Chicago, IL - May 25, 2013 – After over a decade, the world-renowned, multi award-winning graphic novel series, Les Cités Obscures (The Obscure Cities) returns to the United States with The Leaning Girl, a classic story translated into English for the first time.

Writer Benoît Peeters and artist François Schuiten, the creative team behind The Obscure Cities series, have teamed up with US publisher Stephen Smith’s Alaxis Press to bring one of their most important stories, The Leaning Girl, to the English-speaking audience for the first time.

Smith, a longtime fan of the series and of the creators, licensed the rights to the entire series from Casterman Editions, Belgium, owners of the classic international comic series TinTin, and publisher of Les Cités Obscures since the debut volume, Les Murailles de Samaris (The Great Walls of Samaris) in 1987. He then proceeded to translate the volume himself.

“I have been surrounded by the very best in commercial and fine art throughout my career,” Smith said. “But after seeing the film, HUGO, I realized it was important to bring the incredible European comic strip art form to the US and to the English-speaking public.”

Smith launched a Kickstarter campaign on Monday evening, May 23rd, with the goal of raising $30,000 in 45 days. In his first four days, the campaign was at $12,500, just $2500 away from the halfway mark.

“This is my opportunity to share these great stories and beautiful art with the American market,” Smith added.

When the earlier volumes were published in English, the graphic novel format was still considered very much a lowbrow medium relegated to comic book shops. Following the successes of Pulitzer prize winner, Maus, by Art Spiegelman, Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi, and The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick, the graphic novel has become an accepted literary form. The Obscure Cities is an excellent almost Kafka-esque storytelling by internationally acclaimed author and biographer, Benoît Peeters, and stunning visuals by François Schuiten, whose visual sensibilities contributed to the looks of such films as Taxandria, The Perils of Gwendoline, The Golden Compass and the 2012 science fiction masterpiece, Mars et Avril.

The Leaning Girl is the first graphic novel to be produced under Smith’s new imprint, Alaxis Press and will release in October 2013.

For more information, visit www.theobscurecities.com and www.facebook.com/alaxispress

The Kickstarter link is:

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/51096880/the-leaning-girl-translated-graphic-novel-project

Hatter M: Zen of Wonder Vol 4 Review

HATTER M: ZEN OF WONDER Vol. 4
Written by Frank Beddor & Liz Cavalier
Art by Sami Makkonen
Automatic Pictures Inc.


FLIPPING THROUGH:

            This is a graphic novel so, I am gonna sum up stuff here without getting into too great detail. Our adventure starts a Cat Buddah Statue seemingly stolen back in 1859. We go one year later to where Japanese immigrants came to San Francisco and things REALLY get started a decade later.

            Our hero, Hatter, ends up finding that his enchanted hat … go with it … can also be manipulated by a mysterious girl known as Nekko. This girl, according to our main character is special because of that … and for making him jump after her in the roof tops of San Francisco in 1870s. Hatter ask Nekko questions but Nekko answers only  2 at first, after convincing him to put a stop to a Missy Tong, a crime boss, in San Francisco. They go there to get a sword that Hatter was looking for only  to find that the sword and a bunch of men get shangha-ed to be part of a crew. The captain of said crew has a sword with a special insignia.

            Hatter ends up going after the ship with Nekko and a girl named … and I am being serious .. . Lil Dick …and kick the captains ass. The journey takes Hatter and Nekko from San Francisco to Hawaii to Japan where Hatter ends up finding what he was looking for original … after dealing with some demons and more.

            The epilogue to the story leads to some weirdness about Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland and English Prince Leopald … but does tie up exactly what happened to the Cat Buddah Statue from the beginning of the novel.


 ART:

            Makkonen’s style is very unique and very sketchy. He blends some wonderful backgrounds and some really great pictures as he fuses styles from East and West for this novel. There is no super hero type drawing but there are some sensibilities of the West added to a very Eastern style of art that gives the book a great texture and flavor to this journey. And while the style is a bit messy looking, people do look distinct enough that you can tell a difference. Makkonen’s style checks a bit for the epilogue but still works well.

            The colors help set mood and tone for the scenes that go on within the book. There are some truly beautiful panel work within the pages of the graphic novel. When in Japan, there are all sorts of Japanese touches that he makes to the book, including uses of words and certain manga expression that he uses in the background which is inventive and adds authenticity to the stories in Japan. Yet, there is a flaw in Makkonen’s art that make turn off readers and that is a lack of consistency. There are times where he draws faces and people well. Yet, there are other times where the same people he just drew a panel or 2 before may look different because their heads are flatten or their faces stretched out on the panel. And this happens multiple times in the book. Not too much but enough to be noticeable. There are times where the action looks great and other times, it seems a bit confusing because of the style or where the panel goes to from one scene to the next.  Again, this does not happen often but I was confused when the captain brought out two swords … did he just drop them or threw them?

            Otherwise, this is a uniquely drawn and engrossing graphic novel to look at.

STORY:

             I will say that I liked this novel. It was good … but not great. The pacing was good. The characters were varied, full with realized personalities and entertaining to watch. The use of history and references to Alice in Wonderland were used well. Hatter was a great main character who was not perfect but noble. Easy to relate to. Most of the other characters were distinct and fun to read about.

            Yet, let me get to the things that irk me about this book and those are 2 things that are strongly related: Nekko and all the Zen talk. I get that the overall theme of the story was to stop looking for a particularly thing and you will eventually find it among other themes but did Nekko and other parts of the book HAVE to talk Zen nearly every other sentence?  While I understand Nekko’s role … thanks to the epilogue at the end …it was grating after a while. The constant uses of Haiku and remarks … while I understand is a big point to the book became more and more annoying after the first half of the graphic novel.

            I understand that Beddor and Cavalier want to tell a story and provide wisdom but it felt like I was having it crammed down my throat. I will say that this book does give me a lot to think about in terms of life, what and how I am doing and more. Yet, the over use of Zen just annoyed me after a while. Oh yeah … the whole demons stopping their attack and not doing anything after Hatter and Nekko get rid of them made me scratch my head.

           We got solid development for Hatter, Lil Dick and several other characters. We got some great twists and turns dealing with the sword, Hatter's quests and even Nekko. And I loved how some of the fights were more inventive than others ... allowing for some conflicts to be resolved not from fighting. This definitely was an innovation that was welcomed and executed extremely well in this graphic novel.

            Overall though, there was great action, wonderful character development, good history lessons and some really good twists. Kudos to Beddor and Cavalier for a good job there.


OVERALL IMPRESSION:

            This graphic novel is interesting. While it is part of a series of graphic novels, I found this graphic novel interesting, enlightening and entertaining. It gave us a good, epic journey of a man. We got interesting conflicts. We got stylized art.

            Yet, the overuse of Zen from Nekko and the dropped potential with the demons was disappointing. And artistically, it needed to be a little more consistent.

            Still, I would tell people to read this graphic novel and enjoy the journey it gives you.


RATING:

            I give Hatter M: Zen of Wonder Vol. 4  a 7 out of 10. It was good, but could be better. Still a great ride. 

THE TRIP (OGN) Review

THE TRIP (Original Graphic Novel)

Written by Jesse Grillo
Art by David Brame & Heather Breckel
Action Labs Entertainment


FLIPPING THROUGH:

    We open with a  Native American Tribe giving the drug known as Toloache, also known as Demon Weed. The drug is supposed to enhanced the vices and fears of the taker. So much so that they seem real. Horribly, the young man who takes it cannot deal with his own fears … dealing with snakes.

   We meet a group of college kids, focusing on a young woman named Karen. She seems jumpy for some reason. Yet, her roommate drags her along on a trip with a group of friends. One of the college kids ends up getting Toloache, aka Demon Weed after losing their original party drugs.

            After the group takes the Demon Weed, things slowly go from trippy to horrifying. And all the while, something that Karen is afraid of is all too real and affecting her life. The Demon Weed shows the descent of the group of friends which lead to some dramatic and frightening conclusions. I know you hate me right now but not giving spoilers.

ART:

            David Brame style is very messy and thick. Yet, he uses it very well in this story that deals with both horror and dramatically dark imagery that people who have hallucinations people can have while tripping on drugs. And boy, he succeeds in that with spades. The book if filled with scary, vivid and dark imagery that manifest from the college kids.  There are some truly thrilling and haunting pieces in this graphic novel. From the snake in the beginning to the crazied muscles going out of control.

            While some panels seem a bit on the lazier side but those a few and far in between. Most of the hurried panels are the mundane scenes. Yet, Brame captures the overall tone and horror of the story. Heather Breckel’s color really breathes life into Brame’s art and the story.  The color choices throughout the hallucinations really make the book the psychedelic trip that its title implies. She really brings out the darker elements of Brame’s style to really engross the horror elements while the mundane life elements look good.  There is a sharpness to Brame’s work that really works well with the story and Breckel really breathes life into it. Well done by both.


WRITING:

            Jesse Grillo delivers a well paced,  interesting story. The Trip very much seems to follow the classic teen horror movies. Yet, while the tropes are there, Grillo keeps it fairly fresh. The characters feel authentic. The story feels like its straight from a movie. Yet, this is a very good horror movie. Everyone one’s fears are actually a little more unique than the norm (always worried about conspiracies and people out to get you are not norm in horror movies) and Grillo builds up not only Karen but some of the other characters as well.

            The elements that lead to the effects of Demon Weed feel very realistic. The dialogue also felt very real.  And the mixing of people’s own fears with actual horrible things is used to Grillo’s advantage a few times in The Trip, which makes it even more enjoyable.  And while the conclusion is satisfying, there are definitely elements that work within the story that state that this could easily be a movie. A stand up job by Jesse Grillo.

OVERALL REACTION:

            The Trip is a horrific, great ride that deals with responsibilities and overcoming fears before they kill you. The art really works on the horror elements and the writing felt authentic. It certainly creeped me out and it is an enjoyable story. While I didn’t feel like it was “oh my god so innovative”, it took a simple approach and slightly twisted the teen horror trope for this.  A good graphic novel that will hold your interest and is a lot of fun.

RATING:

            The Trip definitely lived up to its name. It’s a strong showing and you should all read it. I give it an 8 out of 10.