Tag Archives: comics

New Comic Books From Tidalwave Include SpaceForce

February 2, 2023 The Silo Leave a comment

Space Force #11

Writer: Michael Frizell

Artist: Daniel Pedrosa

FINAL ISSUE! The attempted assassination of President Quinn during peace talks with the Red Queen pushes Earth towards a galactic war with an alien enemy. But when the assassin’s identity is revealed as Stormy Daniels, Agent Aela Grant and the crew of the Helix II must choose sides. Will they join Space Force in their hunt for one of their own, or will they become criminals? The first season of Space Force ends in this explosive and game-changing issue!

Polka Spot: The World According to Llama #3

Writer: Michael Frizell

Artist: Yehia Mohran

In this fun, all-ages, action-adventure comedy, Polka Spot, everyone’s favorite drama llama, is on location filming her next movie, “The Princess and the Beast.” What she doesn’t know is that the film’s location is famous for sightings of the Hairy Man, a monster that haunts the woods. Meanwhile, someone plots behind the scenes to steal her necklace and crown! Can Polka Spot and her companion, the plucky cat, Jolene, solve the mystery of the hairy man, prevent the theft, and save the movie?

Black History Leaders: Volume 4: Mariah Carey, Donna Summer, Whitney Houston and Lil Nas X

Writers: Darren G. Davis, Michael Frizell, Raphael Moran

Artists: Victor Moura, Kirk Feretzanis, Pablo Martinena

From the hit “Fame” and “Female Force” imprints by TidalWave comics, this volume explores the musicians who have made an indelible mark on our culture, including: LaDonna Adrian Gaines, better known as Donna Summer, the Queen of Disco. Lil Nas X, the multi-award-winning rapper who breaks glass ceilings as a gay man in hip-hop. Whitney Houston, an idol to millions with the voice of an angel whose meteoric career defined a generation, couldn’t keep her demons at bay. Often called the Queen of Christmas and the Songbird Supreme, Mariah Carey’s rise to stardom was not without pitfalls – something she isn’t shy to explore with her five-octave range.

Bold and the Brave #15

Writer: Darren G. Davis

Artist: Breed

There is a new minotaur in town and what are his ties to the villainess Medusa. Will the 10th Muse has to join forces with her in order to save a family that is in chaos. Also the relationship between Emma and Zak heats up. Homage cover by Marvel Comics artist Yonami

Wrath of the Titans: Argos #1

Writer: Chad Jones

Artist: Marcelo Henrique Santana

Perseus is back to face off once again with the titans of myth. Set immediately after the defeat of the mighty Kraken, Perseus plans to rebuild the city of Argos. But his wife-to-be Andromeda is kidnapped by one of Medusa’s gorgon sisters out for her ultimate revenge.

TidalWave Comics Presents Volume 2

Writers: Andrew Shayde, Scott Davis, Adam David Gragg, Chad Rebman

Artists: Carlos Furuzono, Diego Garavano, Addullah, Esdras Cristobel

A new unique team-up ongoing series! The TidalVerse is here! The members of the series, teams up with the TidalWave Universe’s vast array of colorful, costumed adventurers for a series that hearkens back to the Bronze Age of comics when team-ups were something special! This homage series together for the first time features Camelot, Zeus, Orion the Hunter, Venus, Sigma, The Muse, Monsters Among Us and Dorian Gray.

10th Muse: New Beginnings #1

Writer: Darren G Davis and Michael Frizell

Artist: Igor Cicarini

The world met Emma Sonnet, the 10th Muse, 22 years ago when she debuted in the 6th highest-selling comic book of all time. After a personal tragedy, Emma relocates to NYC, hoping for a new start. But Hades, the king of hell, has other plans. TidalWave’s latest ongoing series starts here! Greek mythology has documented the nine Muses, the inspirational daughters of the almighty god Zeus. But history forgot one-the 10th Muse. Emma Sonnet mysteriously disappeared five years ago during a summer trip to Greece celebrating her graduation from law school. Yesterday, she resurfaced just as mysteriously as the newly appointed District Attorney, with a unique take on the law. Battling evil in the courtroom by day, and in the shadows at night, Emma Sonnet is tipping the scales of justice her way, as The 10th Muse.

TidalWave Comics Presents #9: Camelot and Zeus

Writer: Scott Davis

Artist: Abdullah

Resistance! Not all heroes are blessed with understanding or even control of their powers. And not all heroes, given powers to rival the Greek gods, are given Olympus’ blessing. So it’s no wonder that former legal assistant and current hero-in-training Camelot is having a bad day, only it’s about to get worse! His rent is late, the gods are gunning for him, and to top it all off, the nefarious Captain Steel is creating havoc of epic proportions. What’s a hero to do? The Odyssey returns with a story that shows it takes more than a cape and a cool name to be a hero. Guest starring Zeus, God of Thunder.

Where to Find TidalWave Comics

TidalWave Comics’ vast catalog of titles can also be downloaded digitally from Kindle, iTunes, EPIC!, Madefire, Izneo, ComiXology, Global Comics, DriveThru Comics, Google Play, Overdrive, Library Pass, Biblioboard, Nook, Kobo and wherever eBooks are sold.

Comics

No Wonder Thor Is Smiling In Vintage Comics

February 5, 2021 The Silo Leave a comment

This time around in comic news we are looking back at the Journey into Mystery comic auction from Heritage Auctions.

What made this auction particularly interesting is the fact that pricing was reasonable and grading conditions were meticulous. Not always the case on other online auction sites (E-something, Kiji-something), Heritage Auctions or “HA” take great pride in the fact that their faculty includes not only comic fanatics but also experts in antique books and printing. It’s safe to say that ‘what you see and what you read’ here is ‘what you get’.

What about the comics?

In my opinion, Tales of Mystery starring the Marvel character Thor is still an undervalued comic book, even with all of the Marvel movie appearances. Consider that the first run Thor series was benefited by the pencil skills of Mr. Jack Kirby. Jack is an icon in the comic book collector world. Unique style? Check. Quality character poses? Check.

Sure, we all know the main reason for the comic was to set the stage for Thor (introduced by the way in 1962’s Tales of Mystery #83) but there’s also the less considered crossover appeal of major stories (and covers) utilizing such Marvel characters as Magneto , The Incredible Hulk and even Hercules.

Tales of Mystery, like other comics from the early 1960’s, has a naivete and a simple message: Good guy half-god deals with life and an identity crisis. And that’s the fun factor.

It’s been almost sixty years since Marvel introduced the comic character Thor.

That’s a long time. Thor is still around, starring in major motion pictures and wielding the mighty mjolnir. He’s not going away. So if you have the money, investing in one or more of these books is not only a fun move, it’s a wise move. Sure to increase in value. For the Silo, Jarrod Barker.

Comics

Set For Library Borrowing- Graphic Classics Adds Acclaimed Works To Digital Editions

November 6, 2019 The Silo Leave a comment

Graphic Classics use a variety of styles and each work has a unique identity.

MOUNT HOREB, Wisconsin- Graphic Classics, the acclaimed series of comics adaptations of literary classics from publisher Eureka Productions, has had multiple titles included in the Diamond Distribution Core Curiculum List. Of the nearly 100 books on the list, 23 were from the Graphic Classics series, including VOLUME 2: ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE, VOLUME 4: H.P. LOVECRAFT, VOLUME 8: MARK TWAIN, VOLUME 18: LOUISA MAY ALCOTT, and VOLUME 22: AFRICAN-AMERICAN CLASSICS.

To help educators and librarians select materials to fit into their Common Core Standards curricula, Diamond Book Distributors have created the Diamond Graphic Novel Common Core List. Arranged by grade level, the Diamond Graphic Novel Common Core List offers 98 graphic novels from our publishers that will fit into a Common Core curriculum, along with resources including Library Classifications, Subject Headings, and Core Standards which apply to each book. The list is intended both as an aide to educators and librarians and to show that Diamond supports the Common Core Standards as an effective tool to prepare students for the challenges in college and the workforce.

Graphic Classics publisher Eureka Productions has also partnered with Overdrive and Comics Plus: Library Edition to make Graphic Classics digital editions available to libraries across North America and around the world. Among the library systems which have already started carrying digital editions of Graphic Classics are the Boston Public Library, Seattle Public Library, and the Dayton Metro Library.

Library users can borrow digital editions of Graphic Classics from their local library system for reading on smart phones, tablets, and computers. Digital editions are also available to consumers through the ComicsPlus and Ave Comics apps. Check with your local Library for Graphic Classics digital editions. CP

Comics

Sophia Robot Will Make Appearance Next Year At Comic Con

September 6, 2018 The Silo Leave a comment

Artificially intelligent humanoid robot, Sophia, will make her first comic convention appearance at the first annual Ogden UnCon June 7-9, 2019. Sophia the Robot, the masterpiece of Hanson Robotics (www.hansonrobotics.com), has captivated nations and has become an internet sensation. Sophia has met with world leaders, addressed the United Nations, appeared on TV shows such as The Daily Show and The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon, and has graced the cover of Cosmopolitan, ELLE magazine, and more. Now, this modern marvel is coming to Ogden, Utah to meet her fans and kick off Ogden UnCon’s first event.

Ever since her unveiling in 2016, Sophia has quickly rocketed to stardom. Sophia is Hanson Robotics’ most advanced human-like robot, created by combining breakthrough innovations in robotics, AI, and artistry. The epitome of artificial intelligence, Sophia is endowed with remarkable expressiveness, aesthetics, and interactivity, and can simulate a full range of facial expressions, track and recognize faces, and hold natural conversations with people.

Just like Ogden UnCon, Sophia shares a remarkable, unique and unexpected story that captivates and surprises, making her the perfect headliner for our inaugural year.

“Sophia is the personification of the comic con spirit.” says Russ Adams, Ogden UnCon founder. “She is science fiction, fantasy, technological marvel, and superhero come to life. And we are honored she is making her geek-dom debut at Ogden UnCon.”

Fans attending Ogden UnCon will have the chance to engage with Sophia as she greets them on celebrity row, performs on multiple panels and parties with other celebrities and VIP ticket holders at the UnCon VIP Party. Other celebrities such as Naomi Grossman of American Horror Story, Amy Hill of Preacher, Neil Kaplan of Voltron: Legendary Defenders, and many more who have yet to be announced, also round out the show’s guest list.

“Ogden UnCon is going to be a huge event for Ogden,” shares Ogden Downtown Alliance’s Danielle Collier, “not only will it bring guests to share in all Ogden has to offer, but it will drive our local economy, add excitement in a different realm and create an opportunity to celebrate arts and culture.” This three-day event will bring $700,000 USD in economic impact to local businesses.

Ogden UnCon is focused on bringing unconventional shows, panels, workshops and celebrity guests to Northern Utah. As Ogden’s “Untamed & Unconventional” popular culture con, this convention seeks to inspire and support local artists while entertaining and thrilling our community.

Innagural Ogden UnCon
June 7-9, 2019
Ogden Eccles Conference Center
2415 Washington Blvd, Ogden Utah 84401

Tickets for Ogden UnCon go on sale October 1, 2018. To see a full celebrity lineup and purchase tickets visit OgdenUnCon.com. Stay up to date with happenings and announcements by following @OgdenUnCon on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About Ogden UnCon

Ogden UnCon is a limited liability company and an annual event dedicated to the appreciation of pop culture, its creativity, and art forms. Through our convention, we will shine a light on the arts, artists, and city of Ogden, Utah.
http://www.ogdenuncon.com/
https://www.facebook.com/OgdenUnCon/
https://twitter.com/ogdenuncon/
https://www.instagram.com/ogdenuncon/

About Hanson Robotics Limited

Hanson Robotics Limited (HRL) is an AI company dedicated to research, robotics and the creation of the world’s most realistic humanoids. We quest to create robots with intellect, empathy and wisdom, traits future AI technologies and robots will need in order to solve some of humanity’s toughest problems. Led by renowned roboticist, sculptor and former Disney imagineer David Hanson, HRL recently received the prestigious 2018 Edison Prize for Robotics. For more information, please visit http://hansonrobotics.com.

Comics

Three Diverse And Groundbreaking Graphic Novels

January 10, 2018 The Silo Leave a comment

THE CASE OF ALAN TURING: THE EXTRAORDINARY AND TRAGIC STORY OF THE LEGENDARY CODEBREAKER An intimate graphic novel biography of Alan Turing the heroic British codebreaker of World War II, a brilliant gay man living in an intolerant world.He was recruited by the British government to help decipher messages sent by Nazi Germany’s Enigma machines during World War II.

Turing’s work was instrumental in saving countless lives, millions in goods and merchandise, and is estimated to have shortened the war in Europe by four years.The specifics of Turing’s work at Hut 8 were only recently made available to the public—they were declassified in 2012. Authors Liberge and Delalande use this new information to create a graphic biography that is both scientifically rigorous, moving, and accessible. Story by Eric Liberge Illustrated by Arnaud Delalande Translated by David Homel

BECOMING UNBECOMING by UNA This extraordinary graphic novel is part survivor memoir, part true crime story and a denunciation of sexual violence against women. As seen through the eyes of a twelve-year-old girl named Una, it takes place in northern England in 1977, as the Yorkshire Ripper, a serial killer of women, is on the loose and creating panic among the townspeople.

Becoming Unbecoming explores what it means to grow up a girl in a global rape culture where male violence largely goes unpunished and unquestioned. Through image and text, Una questions and challenges a media and broader society who allow a serial killer, Peter Sutcliffe, to become a “fascination,” while the women he murdered are barely remembered.

UNA (a pseudonym) is an artist, academic, and comics creator. Her self published graphic narratives have explored disability, psychosis, political activism, and violence against women and girls. Becoming Unbecoming, which took seven years to create, is her first book. She lives in the U.K. unacomics.com

AVAILABLE NOVEMBER 2016 ISBN 978-1-55152-647-8 6 x 9 | 280 pp | reinforced paper full-colour throughout $26.95 USD/CAN Published by Arsenal Pulp Press US sales & Distribution by Consortium www.cbsd.com Canadian sales by Ampersand Distribution in Canada by UTP

CLICK HERE TO VIEW SAMPLE PAGES

SUCH A LOVELY LITTLE WAR SAIGON 1961-63 Written and drawn by Marcelino Truong Translated by David Homel

This riveting, beautifully produced graphic memoir tells the story of the early years of the Vietnam war as seen through the eyes of a young boy named Marco, the son of a Vietnamese diplomat and his French wife.

Marco’s father is called back to Saigon in 1961, where he becomes Prime Minister Ngo Dinh Diem’s personal interpreter. As the growing conflict between North and South intensifies, so too does turmoil within Marco’s family; his mother’s manic and depressive episodes (she suffers from bipolar disorder) escalate and increase. MARCELINO TRUONG is an illustrator, painter, and author. The son of a Vietnamese diplomat in 1957 in the Philippines, he and his family moved to America (where his father worked for the embassy), then to Vietnam at the outset of the war. He attended the French Lycée in London, then moved to Paris to earn degrees in law at the Paris Institute of Political Studies, and English literature at the Sorbonne.

ISBN 978-1-55152-650-9 9x 11 | 101 pp | paper over board | full-color throughout $23.95 USD/CAN Published by Arsenal Pulp Press US sales & Distribution by Consortium www.cbsd.com Canadian sales by Ampersand Distribution in Canada by UTP

CLICK HERE TO VIEW SAMPLE PAGES

Fashion

Fan Art Boosted With Ready To Hang Quality Gallery Wrapped Canvas

March 27, 2017 The Silo Leave a comment

Can’t figure out what to get the film buff in your life? Delight any movie lover with high-quality EntertainArt. Set the scene with exclusive, limited edition, ready-to-hang wall art from some of the hottest movies, classic comics and TV shows like Star Wars, Alice in Wonderland, Batman and many more.

All products are officially licensed by entertainment studios and in-house designers develop this exclusive artwork with customization, accenting, vibrancy and creativity to every piece.

Featuring rich detail, deep color saturation, and exciting embellishments, EntertainArt is a modern way to display artwork on quality canvas with or without a frame. So what are you waiting for? Shine a spotlight on your space with the magic of the movies.
Whether you’re a fan of sci-fi, Disney princesses, or Marvel and DC superheroes, EntertainArt is the place to find the most unique designs and authentic wall decor. Want to class up your home while still representing your favorite flicks? Check out a few examples of EntertainArt’s growing selection of officially licensed artwork:

Batman Blimp: The world’s greatest detective, Batman, protects his beloved city of Gotham from the rooftops. DC Comics created some of the world’s most popular characters such as Superman and Wonder Woman and is the oldest active publishing company. Beautiful comic book covers like this one from Jim Lee will make for beautiful, bold designs to display proudly on your wall.

Alice Looking For Wonderland Tea Fall: Follow us down the rabbit-hole to a curious place filled with mad hatters, white rabbits, and evil queens. Create a world of your own with wall art that will transport you to wonderland with Alice.

Rogue One, A Star Wars Story: Rebel and Imperial forces collide in this legendary collage. Celebrate this inspiring tale with a creative canvas art piece. Decorate your home with the epic saga of a rebellion built on hope.

About our friends at EntertainArt

EntertainArt is created by entertainment enthusiasts who wanted to fill a void of online stores selling high-quality wall décor for movies, comics and alike. EntertainArt is the leading online destination for officially licensed entertainment wall art. We provide quality ready-to-hang wall art from your favorite movies, comics, and TV Series. Whether you’re a fan of sci-fi, princesses, or superheroes, we are the place where you can find the most exclusive designs and authentic wall decor.

Comics

Neal Adams Unveiled Bucky O’Hare Digital Comic At L.A. Comic Con

November 7, 2016 The Silo 1 Comment

LOS ANGELES – Bucky O’Hare – the original comic book series turned into a classic cartoon – made its debut in the digital domain with an 8-page exclusive Swipe Studio e-comic book written and illustrated by brand creators Larry Hama and Michael Golden together with Neal Adams and his Continuity Productions. Bucky O’Hare and the Toad Menace made its premiere appearance Day One of Stan Lee’s Los Angeles Comic Con recently held October 28-30 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

Designed utilizing the tools available on the all-new Swipe Studio design app, the latest offering in the Bucky O’Hare legacy follows Bucky and his crew as they do battle with the Toad Armada. The special Los Angeles Comic Con presentation featured legendary artist Neal Adams together with Swipe Studio’s famed creator Satoshi Nakajima.

The 8-pager provided fans with a glimpse into the creative for the planned Bucky O’Hare theatrical motion picture now in the works with Neal Adams producing and directing.

The brainchild of software genius Satoshi Nakajima – the engineering architect responsible for Windows 95 and Windows 98 along with Internet Explorer versions 3 and 4 – Swipe empowers everyone from consumers to creators to easily animate everything from emails to digital comics with media-rich digital elements and make use of animation, video, vector graphics as well as full audio for voice, music and sound effects on tablets and smartphones. Created to take full advantage of today’s touch-enabled smartphone and tablet technology, Swipe eliminates the need for complex programming typically required to build animation or other forms of design content. As a result, creators, designers, animators and artists have the tools to create media-rich animated digital content for consumption via touch-enabled devices including smartphones, tablets and touch-enabled set-top-boxes, such as iPhone and Apple TV.

In addition to the Swipe Bucky O’Hare comic book, artist Neal Adams also worked with the Swipe team to load into the platform an impressive portfolio of Bucky art elements and animation that can be adapted by anyone for any digital purpose, including e-mails or presentations of any kind, including all main characters and several backgrounds.

Creators and artists can now experience the free Swipe app instantly by downloading Swipe Studio to their iPhone/iPad/iPod touch and begin to create media-rich animated digital content. To download the Swipe Studio, go to App Store https://appsto.re/us/hlcDeb.i Note- Swipe Studio is available only for iPhone/iPad/iPod touch users with version iOS9 or later.

Swipe Studio users are welcome to join Facebook group; Swipe Studio Users https://www.facebook.com/groups/1076516299084537/

“We are thrilled to unveil the newest Bucky O’Hare creative from the team responsible for this celebrated and enduring property at Stan Lee’s Los Angeles Comic con,” said Nakajima. “I [had] tremendous enthusiasm towards sharing a panel with the great Neal Adams whose brilliant use of the Swipe Studio design tools helps us usher in a new era in digital design.”

“It has been a lot of fun to work with Swipe Studio and I encourage artists to check it out for their own design projects. In fact, Swipie – which is Swipe’s platform for consumers – continues to offer a wealth of art and animation applications to enhance everything from emails to digital presentations. Mr. Nakajima has built an extraordinary platform and I am proud to contribute Bucky O’Hare as a way of underscoring its power as a design platform,” said Neal Adams.

About Swipe, Inc.

Headquartered in Tokyo, Swipe, Inc. is the parent company for Swipe™, an open source platform embedding the full range of visual and audio media into digital documents for smartphones, tablets and other touch-screen devices. Swipe, Inc. Founder-Chief Technology Officer Satoshi Nakajima is recognized industry-wide as the lead engineer and architect of Windows 95 and Windows 98 which he created during his tenure with Microsoft. Visit Swipe, Inc. online at http://www.Swipe.net/.

Comics

WW2 Graphic Novel KATUSHA goes daily in free WEBCOMIC debut

March 6, 2015 The Silo Leave a comment

Garth Ennis: “Wayne Vansant has done a magnificent job with these first two volumes of Katusha.”

Wayne Vansant’s epic war story KATUSHA, GIRL SOLDIER OF THE GREAT PATRIOTIC WAR is being made available to read for free at www.katushagirlsoldier.com. KATUSHA (according to babynology.com, Katusha is a dimunitive form of Russian Ekaterina and Yekaterina, meaning “little pure one”. Katusha is also a famed Russian war song written shortly before World War II) tells the story of a farm girl from Ukraine who becomes a Red Army tank commander during World War II.A coming-of-age story told against the backdrop of the bloodiest conflict in human history, the 1941-1945 Eastern Front between Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia, KATUSHA is created by writer/artist Wayne Vansant (Marvel’s THE NAM, Zenith’s Graphic Histories series). Inspired by the experiences of thousands of women who served in the Red Army as pilots, snipers, tank drivers, and other roles, it forms a sprawling epic that will total three volumes and over five-hundred pages upon completion.

The first two graphic novels in the series, KATUSHA BOOK ONE: EDGE OF DARKNESS and KATUSHA BOOK TWO: THE SHAKING OF THE EARTH are currently available in digital and print format from Grand Design Publishing. The webcomic version of KATUSHA will serialize both, adding a new page every day, with BOOK ONE completing in June and BOOK TWO completing at the end of 2015. The third and final volume, expected in print in mid-2015, will begin serialization in January 2016.

One of Vansant's previous works, The 'Nam was an innovative and truly seminal comic. — One of Vansant’s previous works, The ‘Nam was an innovative and truly seminal comic.

KATUSHA has received praise from critics and comics professionals. History magazine Armchair General Magazine included KATUSHA in its “Stuff We Like” column. Pat Mills, writer of the legendary British war comics series CHARLIE’S WAR has praised Katusha for dealing with a chapter in history that’s been overlooked in the West. Garth Ennis, writer of PREACHER and WAR STORIES (which includes THE NIGHT WITCHES, a story about Soviet women pilots) said of Katusha, “It’s great to see the story of the Soviet women tankers kept alive. Wayne Vansant has done a magnificent job with these first two volumes of Katusha; I look forward to reading more”. Print editions are now available from Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com and other online retailers. Ebook editions are available to consumers through ComicsPlus, Google Play, Kindle, and (soon) Comixology, and to libraries though Overdrive and iVerse.

Wayne Vansant and a blowup of his new work-in-progress: Katusha

KATUSHA BOOK ONE opens with young Katusha’s graduation from her tenth and final year of school. The next morning, Sunday June 22, 1941, Nazi Germany invades the Soviet Union. The young woman and her family escape to the forests to begin a partisan war against the German occupiers. In KATUSHA BOOK TWO, Katusha and her sister Milla join the Red Army and are sent to tank school. Trained to operate the mighty T-34, Katusha fights from countryside to cities and learns the steep price to pay for victory.

Vansant has chronicled history in comics format since 1986. He was the primary artist for Marvel’s acclaimed Vietnam War title, THE ‘NAM, and he has recently returned to historical fiction with his three-volume series KATUSHA, an epic of the eastern front of World War II. He has researched, written, and illustrated many non-fiction graphic novels on subjects including the Korean War, Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglas, and the Battle of Antietam. Since 2013 Vansant has released six non-fiction graphic novels through Zenith Publishing. Vansant is a native of Georgia and served in the United States Navy during the Vietnam War era.

Comics

Vintage Conan the Barbarian original comic page sold via Heritage Auctions

October 19, 2014 The Silo Leave a comment

John Buscema and the Crusty Bunkers Conan the Barbarian #45 Page 16 Original Art (Marvel, 1974). Wondrous and horrible things await in this page from “The Last Ballad of Laza-Lanti,” written by Roy Thomas. The ink on Bristol art has an image area of 10″ x 15″ and it is in Very Good condition. Let’s take a look at a single panel from the page on offer.

Fans of 1970's/1980's Conan the Barbarian graphic comics appreciate the moody almost expressionist pencil and inks. — Fans of 1970’s/1980’s Conan the Barbarian graphic comics appreciate the moody almost expressionist pencil and inks.

Buscema, John:John Buscema (American 1927-2002): After the departure of Jack Kirby from Marvel in 1970, John Buscema became one of the company’s most influential artists [Often called the Michelangelo of comics CP]. Buscema is perhaps most celebrated for his Bronze Age work on the Avengers, the Silver Surfer, and Conan the Barbarian. Buscema’s work proved so in-demand in the mid-seventies, he launched the John Buscema Art School which advertised for students in the pages of many Marvel titles. Stan Lee made appearances as a guest lecturer at Buscema’s school and the two collaborated on the wildly popular book How to Draw Comics The Marvel Way, Simon and Schuster, 1978. Comic Art

The page was sold to the highest bid which reached $US 2,210.75

Supplemental- L.A. Times’ John Buscema obituary – article from 2002

One of the best epic fantasy films of all time? Sure. We will go that far and say Yes!

Comics

TRDWTR “Treadwater” launches as new mature themed Superhero franchise

September 10, 2014 The Silo Leave a comment

TRDWTR, pronounced ‘treadwater’, is a mature take on the superhero genre, set in a plausible geopolitical future. The franchise will kick off with a graphic novel on September 30th, 2014. A live-action series based on the novel is set to follow suit in 2015. A preview of the graphic novel will be staged in America’s largest comic book store today, September 10th. To commemorate the launch, a teaser trailer for the TRDWTR franchise has been made available to the general public. And here it is!

Comics

Comic Auction Featured Jack Kirby Drawings Connected To Argo Film

July 9, 2013 The Silo Leave a comment

Dynamic Duo: Finest Batman #1 Known, Frank Miller’s Dark Knight #2 Cover Art May Each Hit $500,000+ In Heritage Comics & Comic Art Event

A Dynamic Duo of Dark Knight treasures, led by the highest-graded copy of Batman #1, ever certified in 9.2 grade, and Frank Miller’s original cover art for The Dark Knight Returns #2, 1986, are expected to bring $500,000+ each in Heritage Auctions’ Comic and Comic Art Auction Aug. 1-3.

“Whenever you offer the highest-graded copy of one of the top comics in the hobby you can bank on fierce bidding,” said Barry Sandoval, Director of Comics Operations for Heritage Auctions. “This auction is an ideal hunting ground for elite collectors and the 9.2 grade example of Batman #1 represents the quality offered throughout the entire event.”

A landmark edition in the halls of American pop culture, Batman #1 features the first appearances of both the Joker and Catwoman, among the very few comic book villains to have attained true “household name” status. It is expected to reach $500,000+.

A worthy follow up to such an iconic comic book is Frank Miller’s iconic original cover art to The Dark Knight Returns #2, which also is expected to bring $500,000+. The instantly recognizable image of Batman, crippled with rage, is one of several pieces of original art from the groundbreaking Dark Knight series offered by Heritage in the last year.

“For fans of Modern comics, this drawing is where everything really begins,” said Todd Hignite, Vice President at Heritage Auctions. “This moment defines Miller’s Dark Knight, and the modern day perception of Batman, like no other drawing. The only one that comes close, perhaps, is the iconic Splash page from Dark Knight #3, featuring both Batman and Carrie Kelley (Robin), which we sold two years ago for $448,125.”

Among the high-grade examples of the most coveted comic books ever produced comes a near pristine copy of an increasingly popular comic book, Avengers #1 — in stunning 9.4 grade — is expected to realize $175,000+; a 9.4 grade copy of Tales of Suspense #39, the first appearance of Iron Man, which is expected to bring $100,000+; a rare, 9.0 grade copy of Walt Disney’s Comics and Stories #1 may fetch $30,000+ as the finest copy in a remarkable run that also includes a 9.4 grade of issue #2 and a 9.2 grade of issue #3 from the series, both of which are the highest-graded copies.

A collector’s pick of high-grade examples continues as the only 9.8 grade copy of Marvel Spotlight #5, the first appearance of Ghost Rider, is expected to realize $25,000+.

In addition to the dramatic cover from Dark Knight #2, the auction’s offering of original art includes a remarkable movie poster painted by Frank Frazetta for The Night They Raided Minsky’s. Frazetta usually worked in much smaller sizes, making this 38-inch by 28-1/2-inch poster from 1968 an extreme rarity expected to bring $150,000+.

Robert Crumb’s complete 1968 original art for a five-page story titled “City of the Future,” initially stolen from Crumb and slated for Zap Comix #1, is expected to reach $100,000+. Fresh-to-market original cover art from titans Carmine Infantino and Joe Giella from The Flash #117, from 1960, is expected to realize $50,000+ in its first appearance at auction.

Perhaps two of the most anticipated lots link to The King of Comics himself, Jack Kirby, to a covert Iranian rescue operation as depicted in the Academy Award-wining film Argo [ See a nod to Canada’s connection in Ben Affleck’s acceptance speech below CP].

The film tells the story of how the CIA used a fake movie production crew to conceal a daring rescue mission of six Americans held in Iran. The “movie within a movie” was at one time a genuine project titled “Lord of Light,” based on the novel by Roger Zelazny. Producer Barry Geller commissioned Jack Kirby to create a set of concept drawings for the film, but the project stalled and was mostly forgotten, until the CIA used it in their top-secret mission. Two of Kirby’s original oversized concept scene drawings for the project — “Pavilions of Joy” and “Planetary Control Room (Interior)” — remain testaments to his signature style and are expected to bring $10,000+ each.

Comics

NORMANDY A Graphic History Of D Day

November 4, 2012 The Silo 2 Comments

“What a glorious book, vivid, accurate, utterly bewitching.” – Alex Kershaw, bestselling author of The Bedford Boys: One American Town’s Ultimate D-Day Sacrifice

Zenith Press and writer artist Wayne Vansant (Marvel Comics The ‘Nam) offer up 103 entertaining pages in the almanac sized Normandy A Graphic History of D-Day. Tastefully spread out over 15 Chapters, this factual graphic comic tells the story of the Allied invasion of German occupied Europe.

There aren’t any consultant or researcher credits listed in this book but it plays out in a fairly accurate way, with a chronology that starts with the initial Allied paratrooper assault and then the storming of the five D-Day beaches: Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword. Fans of WW2 history know the rest: once ashore, the allies had their work cut out for them as the Germans fell back and defended all the way into Berlin.

Here’s what www.armchairgeneral.com had to say about this books accuracy:
“As with any overview, how much new information a reader learns will depend on how knowledgeable that reader already is on the subject, but Normandy‘s attention to the details makes it worthwhile for adult readers. One of the elements that impressed me most was that the book isn’t just about the Americans. Actions of the British, Canadians, Poles, Free French, and, of course, their German opponents are also given more than just a passing nod.

While some of its chapters cover big-picture subjects (no pun intended, for once) like “Bloody Omaha” or “The Cobra Strikes,” the heart of this book is in its anecdotes about individuals or small groups, such as the story of Stanley Hollis of Britain’s 6th Green Howards using a Sten gun and hand grenades to capture a German bunker, or Michael Wittman’s rampage with his Tiger tank at Villers-Bocage, or Free French soldiers phoning family and friends from the outskirts of Paris to say they’d be home soon.”

Normandy has a suggested retail price of $21.99 Canadian funds and is available at http://www.amazon.ca/Normandy-Graphic-History-Invasion-Fortress/dp/0760343926 For the Silo, Jarrod Barker.

Comics

WW2 Smartphone Graphic Novel Katusha

August 7, 2012 The Silo 2 Comments

KATUSHA VOLUME ONE: EDGE OF DARKNESS, the first of a three volume graphic novel series by historical graphic novelist Wayne Vansant, is now available exclusively in digital format from digital publishing imprint Grand Design Communications.

Kateryna_by_Shevchenko — The painting Kateryna by the Ukrainian poet and painter Taras Shevchenko (1814-1861)influenced Katusha. Kateryna tells the story of a Ukrainian country girl who is seduced and abandoned by a Russian cavalry officer.

KATUSHA is a coming-of-age story set in the Eastern Front of World War II, following the life of a Ukrainian farm girl Ekaterina Tymoshenko, nicknamed Katusha, starting with the invasion of the Soviet Union by Nazi Germany in 1941. The three-volume graphic novel, which when finished will total 540 pages, follows her journey from farm girl to partisan fighter to tank commander in the Red Army, along the way participating in the Battles of Stalingrad and Berlin, among others.

During the second world war, hundreds of thousands of Soviet women served in the Red Army as pilots, snipers, tank drivers and other essential roles. Although KATUSHA is a work of fiction, Vansant based his story on interviews he conducted with living veterans in Ukraine and extensive research. He will return for another trip this fall, to conduct more interviews and do research on locations.

HarperatTarasShevchenkoMonument — Lviv, Ukraine, 26 October 2010 – Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper is joined by Ukrainian officials as he pays tribute to Ukrainian poet, artist, and humanist Taras Shevchenko.

KATUSHA VOLUME ONE: EDGE OF DARKNESS, the first of three volumes, is out now exclusively in digital format for iPhone, iPad, Android, and in-browser reading. It is available in two formats – as six separate chapters priced at $.99usd each and as a single one hundred eighty page edition priced at $4.99usd, and can be purchased through iVerse’s ComicsPlus app and from Grand Design’s electronic storefront on iVerse’s website.

A native of Marbleton, Georgia, writer/artist Wayne Vansant has created many historical graphic novels – both fiction and non-fiction – in a career spanning more than twenty five years. His non-fiction graphic novel about the Allied invasion of Europe in World War II, NORMANDY, were be published in September by Zenith Press.

His recent collaboration with writer Dwight Jon Zimmerman, THE HAMMER AND THE ANVIL (2012), a graphic novel about Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglass, and the end of slavery in America was published by Hill and Wang, and Vansant was the primary artist for Marvel’s The ‘Nam for more than five years.

His other non-fiction graphic novels on military history include DAYS OF DARKNESS, ANTIETAM: THE FIERY TRIAL (with the United States National Park Service), BLOCKADE: THE CIVIL WAR AT SEA, and THE VIETNAM WAR: A GRAPHIC HISTORY.

Culture

McCain Frozen Pizza Movie Pack Is Death Knell For Renting Physical Copies

July 25, 2012 The Silo Leave a comment

mccainmovierentalicons — The beginning of the end of physical movie rentals? Mainstream online movie promo for frozen pizza lovers.

It is another death knell. We spoke last year in 2011 about the awesomeness that is Netflix, and now from left field is..McCain foods and what a great fit. For years now, cereal manufacturers (they buy a lot of corn eh>) have wisely chosen to promo their boxes by including free Movie at the Cinema passes.

When my favourite cereal went on sale ( a certain granola-esque crunch recipe ) I was ecstatic. Silo Direct Link to List of Breakfast Cereals.

About a year ago it went on sale and it included a free Movie at the Cinema pass for Cineplex. There were only very minor restrictions on the pass: not valid for preview screenings ( I can wait two days for the film to run ) and not being valid for IMAX screens. So other than those, it was OPERATION POPCORN. On account of the free movie.

And this is now. Over last year’s Christmas holidays and this year’s Summer holidays the marketing gurus at McCain unleashed this consumer gotcha!: buy a McCain thin crust California Chicken pizza (surprisingly not that unhealthy) or other McCain pizza (not surprisingly that healthy) to receive a free online digital movie. The code is in the box. This sounded like a bit of fun. It wasn’t exactly emptying out a box of cereal for the prize inside but it was close, and a more adult-like treasure hunt ensued.

So it’s buy your pizza, fix your pizza (if you don’t already, try adding some shaved deli chicken, sliced olives and crushed black pepper), cook your pizza, then sink into your favorite chair in your home theater , turn on your smart t.v. and use it’s built in web browser to visit the Link to McCain Movies and use your code. If you’re feeling especially retro, I suggest the 1978 Superman. Gene Hackman as Luthor. Comic fans- is there a better onscreen comic villain performance, even now, thirty-five years later?

mccainthincrust — I love New Orleans pizza but in a pinch frozen pizza gets the silver medal

FYI I just had a look and McCain’s collection is small but it’s quality over quantity and using the Epson projector in our Silo office theater, I streamed The Matrix while enjoying a hot slice of Cal. Chick. pizza. For less than 5$ I had a pizza and a free movie that streamed well and projected to 5X7 feet and felt like a cinema experience. I wasn’t even missing the popcorn.

Did you know? McCain uses caramel and annatto for adding the right amount of colour to its tomato pizza sauce?

Is this the future? This is the future if you don’t think so, you’re still renting movies- perhaps on DVD or dare I say it, VHS? For the Silo, Jarrod Barker.

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