The Little Show that Keeps Getting Bigger
Tuesday, June 7, 2006 6:35 PM

I've told you many times before about the Comic Book and Toy Show that Tim Gordon puts on several times a year in Tampa. Tim started doing the conventions about 3 or 4 years ago and they were pretty small affairs - but boy, were they fun.

My son Mike, John "Big" Beatty, John "Johnny Star-Warz" Higashi and James "The James" Howell and I would always try to make the shows because we always had a blast. Over the years the convention has gradually gotten bigger [adding multiple guest artists per show, costume contests, an independent film room and more], but was able to retain that small show feel.

Tim will have his next show on August 20th. My buddy, Bill Black will be on hand [along with star Brenna Barry] to screen "Gargantarma" a documentary which explores the history of giant women in cinema. Legendary comic artist, Nick Cardy, will be the guest of honor! Several other guests will be on hand. You can see the full details by clicking HERE.

If you're able to make it, you should plan on joining us!

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The Shield: One Last Season
Monday, June 5, 2006 8:08 PM

This is the best news I heard all day:

The sixth season is currently in production and will begin airing early next year.

At this point it looks like the episodes in 2008 will be it for the show. FX president-general manager John Landgraf has said, "Shawn (Ryan -- creator of The Shield) and I have been discussing how it will end.. I know what the arc is of the final season, almost through the last episode, and this is definitely the end of it."

I'll be sad to see The Shield end, but I do like the idea of it following it's course to a definite conclusion. [Hopefully Lost will do the same.]

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Gnarls Barkley is Crazy!
Monday, June 5, 2006 8:08 PM

If you haven't heard the song "Crazy" by Gnarls Barkley, you should give it a listen. Better still check out the video by clicking HERE.

I can't remember the last time I liked both a song and the video for it so much.

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Mr. T Calls Out Superman
Sunday, June 4, 2006 9:49 PM

rambo89 posted THIS on my message board and it was just too good not to share with everyone.

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Twenty Years for a Quarter
Saturday, June 3, 2006 6:48 PM

It's hard to believe that the comic company that brought us Black Cross, SIn City, Concrete, Hellboy, Monkeyman and O'Brien, Conan, The Rocketeer, Grendel, Aliens, Predator, Hard Looks, Groo, Tarzan, Star Wars, etc., etc. etc. is twenty years old.

But it is.

I can remember buying the first issue of Dark Horse Presents right off the rack. Chris Warner's Black Cross was on the cover and in the lead story. [For the record, I really think it's time for a new Chris Warner Black Cross mini-series.] The rest of the book featured Concrete [Paul Chadwick's story and art], Midwalk [Randy Stradley and Randy Emberlin], and Brighter [art and story by Paul Chadwick]. I knew this little comic company had a bright future...

So here we are twenty years later. Dark Horse has decided to publish a celebration comic of sorts. Aptly titled, Dark Horse Twenty Years, will feature art by Art Adams, Sergio Aragonés, Paul Chadwick, Adam Hughes, Frank Miller, Cary Nord, Eric Powell, Matt Wagner, Chris Warner, Joss Whedon, Mike Mignola, and many others!

What will make this even more fun is that every page will feature a different piece, with each showcasing a character from the company's rich history. As an added bonus, instead of drawing their own creations, the artists have traded titles, so they can provide an unexpected take on the characters that made Dark Horse famous!

The final kicker? As a gift to fans, Dark Horse is pricing this bad boy at just a quarter!

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Mike Zeck: Limited, Signed, Rare and Original
Friday, June 2, 2006 5:33 PM

My buddy, Mike Zeck has a few ebay auctions going right now.

Here's what he's offering:

* One of his limited edition signed and numbered sketchbooks

* Preliminary art that Mike created as possible covers to a Wally Wood tribute book

* A rare [#1 of six] Marvel Punisher portfolio [Mike has autographed all plates and is including an original sketch]

* The first preliminary sketch that Mike worked up for the portfolio

* The second prelim that Mike created for the portfolio

You can't go wrong if you win any of the auctions. Zeck is the man. [But you already knew that, didn't you?]

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Checking in on 300
Thursday, June 1, 2006 6:32 PM

It's been a while since we checked on on "300." There's a lot of stuff going on.

Head over and check it out. I'll be here when you get back.

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McFarlane Toys: A Lost Opportunity
Wednesday, May 31, 2006 4:14 PM

McFarlane Toys, which produces the most detailed action figures on the market, has scored a major coup. They will produce several series of action figures based on the hit tv series Lost.

Series One will feature Jack, Kate, Locke, Hurley, Charlie and Shannon. All figures will be 6 inches tall and come with a detailed base and "photographic backdrop, capturing an episode-specific moment in the character's story." In addition, each figure will come with a sound chip so that you can each hear "signature lines taken directly from the show's soundtrack."

Lost "deluxe boxed sets" will also be available. The first series of Lost figures is scheduled to be released this November.

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Mel Gibson Has a Brave Heart
Tuesday, May 30, 2006 6:40 PM

Yesterday my son and I were channel surfing. Suddenly we came across "Braveheart." We both stopped talking and turned to watch the scene.

Mel was giving the troops the famous pep-talk. You know the one... "They can take our lives, but they'll never take our FREEEEEEEEEDOM!"

The next thing you know we were both grinning from ear to ear as we spouted classic lines from "Braveheart."

I can remember Entertainment Tonight doing a piece about "action star" Mel Gibson on location starring in and directing "Braveheart." I thought at the time, "Man, is he taking a risk!" Mel was walking away from barrels of money to do another "Lethal Weapon" and instead was directing [and starring in] a movie about some guy who lived hundreds of years ago that hardly anybody even knew existed.

We all know how it turned out.

Just a few years ago I remember when I first heard Mel's plans for "The Passion of the Christ." This time Mel was walking away from trunkloads of money for another "Lethal Weapon" to instead direct a movie [which he wasn't going to star in] about Jesus Christ. To make the movie even more unlikely to be successful, it didn't feature a cast of international [or even national] superstars and was subtitled!

We all know how it turned out.

Mel's next film, Apocalypto, is a violent tale which takes place 3,000 years ago and follows a Mayan hero who is on the run. Gibson won't appear in the film and it will be subtitled.

Anyone wonder how it will turn out?

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