tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15368021146289967292009-11-07T18:20:34.871-08:00Joel Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17723952510039418615noreply@blogger.comBlogger138125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1536802114628996729.post-35823111081932346222009-11-07T17:52:00.000-08:002009-11-07T18:20:34.884-08:00

I learned from the artist himself this weekend plans are afoot for a reprinting of Michael Golden's wickedly cool Jackie Chan comic series Spartan X, with a conclusion to the story arc left incomplete by its unfortunate demise.This fulfills one of the items on my Ultimate Comic Book Wish List. Other items include:1) a Cassandra Cain storyline that doesn't make me want to vomit2) a reprinting of

Joel Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17723952510039418615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1536802114628996729.post-51656004867641406392009-11-07T17:21:00.000-08:002009-11-07T17:51:54.249-08:00

"Everything in the modern home is controlled by switches -- except the children." That is one editor's reminder that Solomon's advice on use of the rod is largely ignored these days and that children do about as they please. One thing they do is to read comic books. Children were the principal market in the U.S.A. last year for some 70 million.That fact isn't especially deplored by Miss Margaret

Joel Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17723952510039418615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1536802114628996729.post-70273447200087012592009-11-01T16:15:00.000-08:002009-11-01T16:37:33.174-08:00

I know I do, despite Halloween's being over. I'm thinking it's about time to revisit Ito Junji's nauseatingly good horror comic Uzumaki.It begins with those simple words. They might lead you to expect some sort of nostalgia trip, a charmingly funny autobiographical tale of young love in a small, seaside town. But look closer. Now you begin to sense something ominous in the moody sky, a black

Joel Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17723952510039418615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1536802114628996729.post-13342866924500447272009-10-31T02:05:00.000-07:002009-10-31T17:46:13.634-07:00

Here's a Halloween treat-- "Night of the Reaper," with Batman and Robin in Rutland, Vermont, for the annual Rutland Halloween Parade plus a swingin' shindig for all the groovy cats and chicks at superfan Tom Fagan's house. And more Nazis than you can shake a roll of Smarties at. Kids of all ages (and Nazi war criminals) love this classic candy treat.Ah, what a pedigree this story has. The script

Joel Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17723952510039418615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1536802114628996729.post-82297814118068698062009-10-26T16:20:00.000-07:002009-10-26T18:56:35.584-07:00

I’m a horror traditionalist. I don’t enjoy “torture porn” like the Saw series or the movie Hostel. Those kinds of horrors you can find in real life if you look hard enough. I’m more into the classics—ghosts, Frankenstein’s monster, werewolves and vampires. I do have a weakness for Japanese horror, mostly for its dream-logic and different feel from our Eurocentric horror tradition; but many of

Joel Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17723952510039418615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1536802114628996729.post-90126662565886517802009-10-20T17:24:00.000-07:002009-10-20T17:39:33.576-07:00

Museum of Terror 3: Long Hair in the AtticPublisher: Dark Horse ComicsStories and Art by Ito JunjiNow that my favorite anti-hero Tomie has met her fate-- or has she? Cue ominous music-- Ito Junji tells a series of one-off horror stories in volume 3 of Dark Horse’s wonderfully disgusting Museum of Terror series. Actually, the stories in Long Hair in the Attic pre-date the Tomie Saga (as I like

Joel Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17723952510039418615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1536802114628996729.post-52448983207506193022009-10-18T05:43:00.000-07:002009-10-18T06:32:26.201-07:00

DC Universe Illustrated by Neal Adams Volume 1Publisher: DC ComicsScripts: VariousPencils: Neal AdamsInks: Adams, Nick Cardy, Joe KubertWow, DC has really been pushing these Neal Adams books in recent years. First the three volume Batman Illustrated By set, books of his Green Arrow/Green Lantern and Deadman work and now this, a collection of Adams stories and filler from all across the DC line.

Joel Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17723952510039418615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1536802114628996729.post-13995092284120406982009-10-16T20:04:00.001-07:002009-10-16T20:04:58.575-07:00

It's not very frightening news-- unless you're completely phobic about controversial and charismatic retired prime ministers-- but Koizumi Junichiro will provide the voice for Ultraman King, mentor of the Ultras, in the upcoming release Dai-Kaiju Battle: Ultra Ginga Densetsu, The Movie (Great Monster Battle: Ultra Galaxy Legend, The Movie).This is, if its title is to be believed, a movie of some

Joel Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17723952510039418615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1536802114628996729.post-42479108002256450472009-10-15T17:31:00.000-07:002009-10-15T20:07:10.973-07:00

Here’s a list containing an unlucky 13 or so books-- okay, I cheat throughout the list so it's way more than 13-- to keep you shivering all October. Read them around sunset as the dark, bruised tree shadows lengthen and the sun sits above the horizon like a fat orange jack-o-lantern, with the world poised between the sunlight of reality and the twilight of some ineffable mystery… 1) Essential

Joel Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17723952510039418615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1536802114628996729.post-75374332737200647952009-10-11T17:33:00.000-07:002009-10-11T17:43:18.480-07:00

Because a mysterious millennial cult spreading biological terror is pretty scary stuff, right? This is the trailer for the first film in a trilogy adapting Urasawa Naoki's sci-fi mystery manga 20th Century Boys. The third and final film was released here in Japan in August 2009 and made quite a stir. I'm not sure when the films will be released in North America, but the English translation of

Joel Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17723952510039418615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1536802114628996729.post-3306763167178320282009-10-06T17:36:00.001-07:002009-10-06T18:18:56.747-07:00

This isn't particularly scary-- unless you're one of those unfortunate mangaphobes-- and it has nothing to do with celebrating Halloween but it is cause for personal celebration. According to a story on Publishers Weekly, Japanese comic publishing giant Kodansha plans to partner with Random House and publish comics directly for the US market. Apparently, this won't affect the publishers who have

Joel Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17723952510039418615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1536802114628996729.post-8350808367979796852009-10-04T02:59:00.001-07:002009-10-04T03:45:32.780-07:00

In a titanic clash of two mythic Pauls, THB writer/artist Paul Pope (yeah, he's done other stuff but I really dig me some THB) takes on intergalactic space messiah/part-time sandworm wrangler Paul Muad'Dib. The only flaw in this gorgeous page is Pope's eccentric spelling "M'uad Dib." Pesky apostrophe! Whenever I type Muad'Dib's name (which is surprisingly often), I always have to do a half dozen

Joel Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17723952510039418615noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1536802114628996729.post-15663435695591261832009-10-03T18:50:00.000-07:002009-10-04T16:31:53.524-07:00

Back in the old days, before any of you were born, there suddenly appeared these new upstart, upscale comic book companies with names like First, Aardvark-Vanaheim and Pacific. Pacific printed their comics—which were pricey for the times at $1.50 a pop—on state-of-the-art Baxter paper. What is Baxter paper?I didn’t know then, and and I don’t know now. I only know it was whiter than newsprint and

Joel Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17723952510039418615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1536802114628996729.post-67479690184196202672009-10-01T18:37:00.000-07:002009-10-01T19:03:09.427-07:00

This is gonna be a scary post, kids! The scariest! You'll probably barf up all your kiddy cereal that you eat in the mornings, not expecting to be so scared by posts like this one!AWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!See, kids, Japan's last prime minster, Mr. Taro Aso, was one of the scariest imaginable creatures alive-- he was a comic book fan! Isn't that scary? A horrible, terrible, flesh-eating comic book

Joel Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17723952510039418615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1536802114628996729.post-59292641516954561902009-09-30T19:47:00.000-07:002009-09-30T19:50:44.829-07:00

October, the month of Halloween. It's the creepiest, kookiest, scariest month of the year. You might even say it's the spookiest. And the coolest, grooviest band in Hamamatsu is Spookey, the all-girl punk/pop trio that rocks my musical socks lately.That's why in conjunction with myself over at my "living in Japan" blog, Super-Gaijin '76, I've decided to declare October "Spookey Month."Spookey

Joel Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17723952510039418615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1536802114628996729.post-7757242647375566492009-09-30T18:33:00.000-07:002009-09-30T18:34:00.306-07:00

Steve Rude? No longer in love with making comics?From his official website biography:Currently, Rude’s focus is on fine art paintings.According to an announcement on his MySpace blog and linked to his Facebook feed, it looks like one of my artistic idols-- a giant among pencillers-- has called it quits with the comic book sequential stuff in favor of fine art and gallery shows. Steve Rude,

Joel Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17723952510039418615noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1536802114628996729.post-9901502263816190302009-09-29T18:34:00.000-07:002009-09-29T18:52:13.997-07:00

Michael Golden has been named guest of honor at the Mid-Ohio Con, scheduled for October 3-4. This year! So much for that "Reclusive One" label, huh? Bernie Wrightson will also be a guest of honor. If they stopped right there, I'd be in geek heaven. Those two rank fairly high in my personal pantheon of influences-- if either of those guys are handling art on a book I automatically buy it no

Joel Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17723952510039418615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1536802114628996729.post-44664447661645352982009-09-29T16:55:00.000-07:002009-09-29T18:01:24.604-07:00

Watchmen: Special Collector's Edition DVD (Japan Version)Studio: ParamountDirector: Zack SnyderScreenwriter: David Hayter and Alex TseCast: Malin Akerman, Billy Crudup, Matthew Goode, Jackie Earle Haley, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Patrick WilsonCapsule Review: "Visionary" director Zack Snyder and company adapt the classic Alan Moore/Dave Gibbons graphic novel that changed comics forever and moved

Joel Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17723952510039418615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1536802114628996729.post-28064027926701175312009-09-28T16:39:00.000-07:002009-09-28T17:51:07.903-07:00

The DC Comics Guide to Digitally Drawing ComicsPublisher: Watson-Guptill PublicationsWriter: Freddie E Williams II Foreward by Brian BollandDid you know Brian Bolland creates his artwork digitally? I learned that about a year ago and it freaked me out. All those fine little cross-hatching lines! That's insane! Brian Bolland... digital artist.I've been drawing for as long as I can remember. My

Joel Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17723952510039418615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1536802114628996729.post-9444076673299226942009-09-26T05:02:00.000-07:002009-09-26T05:44:19.327-07:00

I wrote about the relative lack of Cassandra Cain-related merchandise a few weeks ago. You have to be careful what you ask for, the ol' saying goes, because you just might get it. Here comes the Cassandra Cain Batgirl as you've never seen her before-- showing some skin and with her legs all wrapped up in her cape like a clumsy yet sexy oaf. It's the Ame-Comi Batgirl, due from DC Direct in October

Joel Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17723952510039418615noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1536802114628996729.post-88784068732755090252009-09-22T09:35:00.000-07:002009-09-23T03:43:30.835-07:00

Once again, I have to use the "I'm in Japan so I don't hear about these things until after everyone else has already beaten them to death and then I come in a kick the corpses" defense. Which, to be honest, is no defense at all. But I just learned from the Onion A/V Club the Jack Kirby estate is suing Marvel/Disney or whatever it's called now for the copyright reassignment of all the characters

Joel Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17723952510039418615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1536802114628996729.post-59476926336358941942009-09-21T06:42:00.000-07:002009-09-21T06:49:33.798-07:00

Police recovered and identified mangaka Usui Yoshito's body Sunday, September 20th, according to a report in the Japan Times Online. As you know, Usui was the cartoonist responsible for the frequently hilarious Crayon Shin-chan manga, which has spun off into TV animation and motion pictures, including the current live-action hit Ballad. Authorities believe Usui accidentally fell to his death

Joel Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17723952510039418615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1536802114628996729.post-78791354170342273832009-09-19T17:20:00.000-07:002009-09-19T17:26:22.853-07:00

The Japan Times Online reports a body found by a climber on Mount Arafune may be that of missing Crayon Shin-chan mangaka Usui Yoshito. The 51-year-old comic creator has been missing since September 11th, when he told his family he was going hiking in the mountains in Gunma prefecture. Obviously, we're still hoping for the best, but realistically over the course of the week, this kind of bad

Joel Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17723952510039418615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1536802114628996729.post-4614799032167383562009-09-18T17:07:00.000-07:002009-09-18T23:15:17.748-07:00

I probably should be posting something about the newest of the comic book apocalypses, that big shake-up going on at Time-Warner and its creation of DC Entertainment. Good? Bad? Indifferent? Will you miss Paul Levitz? That's all super-insider stuff and if anything, this blog models itself after the sterling work of The Onion's Jackie Harvey. So instead of unloading on that heavy-duty topic about

Joel Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17723952510039418615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1536802114628996729.post-24685918203709872942009-09-16T18:19:00.001-07:002009-09-16T18:32:34.859-07:00

According to a story in the Mainichi Daily News, Crayon Shin-chan mangaka (comic creator) Usui Yoshito has gone missing, possibly in the mountains of Gunma prefecture. He left home on September 11th and Usui's worried wife reported him missing the next day after he failed to return. Calls to his cellphone have gone unanswered and police are combing the mountains in an effort to locate the missing

Joel Bryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17723952510039418615noreply@blogger.com0