Calavera Comics Shout Out

Thanks to the Calavera Comics guys for linking me at their great blog.
They're a group of super-talented artists breaking into comics and studying at the Art Institute of Tampa. Props to John, Alex, Mark, Brian and Jason! Here's to making some comics, guys! /raises inkwell/

Portfolio Submissions! Artists Wanted

Hey artists out there:

I'm on the lookout for professional pencilers, inkers and colorists.

Submit samples of your work during March 2007 at artmonkeys (dot) studios (at) gmail (dot) com, and those who I am able to work with, I'll be able to offer competitive industry rates for your work.

(links to online galleries would be preferred, but I could accept attachments 1MB or smaller, so give me an initial heads-up that your following e-mail will contain attachments. Wouldn't want any attachments to clog up my inbox and cause your contact to me go missing. I'm always pushing the limits of g-mail's storage... :D )

The Eagle Awards 2006 Nominations

The Eagle Awards 2006 Nominations are being taken online back at that link.

First time I noticed the Eagle Awards was an early X-Men comic I owned in the 6th grade; I think it was a John Byrne/Terry Austin cover of the X-Men in the Savage Land, Colossus and Cyclops tied to a red-hot stake. My admiration for comics grew immediately upon seeing the Eagle Awards icon as I realized artists and writers could win an award for making comics...what a great job they have!

Now I'm all twitterpated that I'm in the mix, nominated for Best Letterer. But don't mind me; go vote! (And not for me, but for the best letterer; but if you do vote for me, I appreciate the kind thoughts and support!) ;-)

Why publishing is so tricky

Because you have to care about the fans. And mean it.

A sad week

First, we got the sad news that our friends in Utah delivered their baby stillborn last week, and had the viewing yesterday; beautiful Zane Andrews. John & Holly, Zane's mom and dad, are handling this well, I have heard, and I'm not. Sad, sad, sad... tears me up now writing this.

And, now I just got off the phone that one of the collabs I was going to be working with on an upcoming book, a phenom colorist named Drew Posada, has passed away recently. I was just speaking of him a couple weeks ago, while sorting out the details of this new project with the publisher. An incredible talent, and interesting guy. Here's a thread about Drew, at the World-Famous colorist forum, GutterZombie....

Rest in Peace boys.

Joesph Barbera has passed away

BBC NEWS reports briefly on US cartoonist Joseph Barbera passing away.

A longer profile is featured at CBS.

I'm sure there will be memorials coming soon from Mark Evanier and many comics professionals. Joseph Barbera is a legend of the animation industry, both as a cartoonist and a director.

Joe will be missed; but we'll have his & Bill's characters to remind us of the long, wonderful picnic we all shared.

Truly, Joe was smarter than the average bear.

So, Celebrate Monkey Day

...with these fine Monkey Day Comics.
Enjoy!!

Happy Monkey Day! (belatedly)

See? It's not just us...

Derec Donovan & Jim Fern book previews

One link for two realllly good previews of books at DC by three buddies of mine.

First preview is CONNOR HAWKE: DRAGON'S BLOOD, a new mini-series written by Chuck Dixon and drawn by Derec Donovan (formerly known as Derec Aucoin). The writing and art are both top-notch. Derec just keeps getting better!

Second, further down in the column, Jim Fern is the featured artist on a new Vertigo series called CROSSING MIDNIGHT, a contemporary horror/fantasy tale -- Jim had alluded to his new Vertigo series recently to me, and I'm excited to read the first issue preview so soon after. Great work, Jim!

THE END of the FANTASTIC FOUR!

NEWSARAMA has a nice preview about Alan Davis' FANTASTIC FOUR: THE END series coming in November... and I've just today been pegged to letter the series! I'll let Matt Brady tell you the rest of what you need to know... I've got Alan Davis pages to go letter pronto!!

Comic Book Resources - CBR News - The Comic Wire

Comic Book Resources - CBR News - The Comic Wire
Some elaboration by Marvel Publisher Dan Buckley about the partnership with Dabels' DB Pro... fascinating stuff, and it really explains how they will be playing to each other's strengths.

CSN@NEWSARAMA: DABEL BROTHERS MAKE THEIRS MARVEL! - NEWSARAMA

CSN@NEWSARAMA: DABEL BROTHERS MAKE THEIRS MARVEL! - NEWSARAMA
This is amazing news. Truly incredible! And yet, it's easy to believe, because DB Pro has an audience at the bookstores that Marvel really should appreciate, so it's a great match!

More to come from Artmonkeys about this development...!

Stan Lee Meets Spider-Man!

The ComicBloc has a look at Stan Lee Meets Spider-Man
Has this been the year for reliving my glory days of comics reading, or what? Man, I've got a fun gig...

Jeff Parker interview about Agents of Atlas

Agents of Atlas is more than a comic, too... it's an alt-reality game... sneaky, eh? Maybe the Jen Contino interview with Jeff Parker has more clues...?

THE BEAT blogs ATLAS 4 cover

THE BEAT » NAMORA!
Cover art by studly Tomm Coker.
Book by the stellar team of Jeff Parker, Leonard Kirk, Kris Justice, and Michelle Madsen; and I'm supremely lucky to be aboard this great book.

I also hear that issue 1 is sold-out. There is a rumor a 2nd print with a new cover is going to reissue. Yellow claws are crossed!

THIS STAN -- THIS MONSTER!!

Comic Book Resources posts a preview and interview about Stan Lee Meets... a series of one-shots where Stan meets some of his Marvel creations! Look a few screens lower, and you'll spot a cover homaging Fantastic Four #50 that I helped re-create..."This Stan, This Monster!" Pretty sweet.

Hey! We know him!

COMICON.com: INTRO TO WEBCOMICS: SCOTT REED'S CHAMPION OF A LOST UNIVERSE

Scott is quietly turning out one of the smarter stories this year; partly for the actual story, and partly for the history BEHIND Champion. You can bet when Champion Of A Lost Universe is done, there'll be a lot more attention paid to Scott's talent as a comics creator!

Go, Scott!!!

AKA Train Man!!

DC's CMX TO PUBLISH DENSHA OTOKO
Look for this other Artmonkeys Studios project, coming out in October! More on this later...check back.

Two-Monkey Kid

NEWSARAMA.COM: DAN SLOTT TALKS TWO-GUN
Some cool preview images of our latest work at Marvel!

Stardust Kid's J.M. DeMatteis interviewed!

Stardust Kid's J.M. DeMatteis is getting a lot of press and interviews: I recommend you go read what he has to say to Jen Contino at The Pulse (with lots of pages from the comic books, to boot!), and also what he said in his interview with Dave Moran at Comic Book Resources. Plus, there's an audio interview at World Talk Radio (take a listen at the link). Quite the gentleman, J.M. is! And busy!

He's writing Abadazad, Stardust Kid, Boom! Studio's Hero Squared and Planetary Brigade, plus Justice League TV episodes... and yet, he finds the time to make a great plug about my other buddy's project Lions Tigers & Bears as being a fabulous read!