UPFRONT: Playing Catch Up v.2
By Jonathan Ellis

Time for another article giving me a chance to play catch up on some books that deserve a little well earned attention. You may remember last time when I kicked things off by linking to artist Bryan Lee O Malley's website featuring Bittorrent downloads of his albums produced under the musical nom de plume of Kupek. Since then some extra's have been added which you can check out, and while there, be sure to wish Mal & Hope good luck on their move into their new apartment in a new city.

For those who don't know, Isotope Comics have opened up the Virtual Lounge, a new message board community featuring special sections for the likes of Maureen McTigue, Jock, Ed Brubaker, Mark Ricketts and more. Already picking up steam though, one thing in particular drew my attention as part of Rick's Against the Grain column; the Rick Remender Promo Challenge! You could win a piece of original art from Kieron Dwyer and Ricks art run on the Avengers, all you have to do is promote the new Image series' Strange Girl and Sea Of Red. Follow the link for the full details.

So here's what I'm going to do, the first person to contact me and is able to convince me they can handle the job will have PopImage.com as an open forum to vie for the prize. That's right, if you think you can interview the creators, if you think you can handle mixing up a sweet ass preview, if you think you can do the job... then we will publish it here at PopImage and help to promote the series so you can vie for that prize. Have you got what it takes, if so then e-mail me at ellis@popimage.com and convince me that you're the one for the job.

Sea Of Red Written by Rick Remender and featuring art by Kieron Dwyer and Salgood Sam, tells the tale of a young sailor turned undead by the crew of a cursed Pirate ship, his century-spanning search for revenge and the tricks that time plays on the mind.

1533. Deep in the night, a ship sinks under mysterious circumstances. Twenty-three year-old Marco Esperanza is the only survivor, left adrift with only a plank of wood to keep him afloat. After days of drifting, he is brought aboard a strange ship. But his salvation turns to nightmare as he learns the ship is the dreaded Black Galleon. The evil mates of the Galleon aren't just pirates, they're vampires, and Marco is soon forced to join the damned crew.

2004. Marco Esperanza has spent the past 400 years clinging to life tied to the bow of a sunken vessel in the dark, briny, deep. Surviving on the cold sour blood of fish, Marco awaits his release and a chance for revenge that may never come.

Sea Of Red Issue 1 is now available in finer comic shops and Issue 2 ships to stores April 27th.

Strange Girl, written by Rick Remender and featuring art by Eric Nguyen, takes place ten years after the Rapture leaving the Earth unprotected by God and overrun by demons, the remaining human population now enslaved at the hands of hells society.

After saving the life of a runt demon, bartender, occultist and comics equivalent of a Suicide Girl, Bethany Black discovers that God is soon returning to wipe the world clean of all things unholy. With the end of the world coming Bethany sets out to find the last doorway left to Heaven and plead for admission.

Strange Girl Issue 1 hits stores June 8th and can be pre-ordered with Diamond Order Code APR05 1662.

For more info be sure to visit rickremender.com, kierondwyer.com, and salgoodsam.com.

Give me a shout at ellis@popimage.com, convince me you're down with the challenge and we'll help you vie for the prize.



WAY OFF MAIN
By Josué Menjivar and Scott Malin

Josué is the creator behind the books Broken Fender and Cicada published by Top Shelf Productions, currently featured on Top Shelf's Comix Page are a few strips of Way Off Main, which is also a weekly comic strip published in the Georgia Straight newspaper in Vancouver. Now going into it's third year, the first year has been collected into a graphic novel now available from Josué's website: freshbrewedillustration.com.

Josué's work tends to feature stories that draw focus on such topics as helplessness and sorrow but also hope, which he expertly portrays in metaphor and emotive illustrations. A street car here, a lonely tear there, often nostalgic and always heartfelt, from the first strip I saw I was hooked.

I'm personally really looking forward to picking up this volume and only hope to see more.

OWLY
By Andy Runton

The all ages book making one of the biggest splashes onto the comics scene since Bone first appeared, I'm sure you've already heard the praise from all over, and now you're going to hear some more.

Adorable and delightful, I just know that if I had this book when I was a kid, I'd spend hours drawing the character of Owly, trying to capture the expressive cartoon like brushstrokes. Trying to recreate the endearing movements where everything from Owly's ears to his beak to the compassionate and communicative eyes are so sweetly appealing that every single drawing speaks volumes and tugs at the heartstrings.

Even with a thesaurus I can't find enough good things to say about Owly, but I wholeheartedly recommend you pick this up if you haven't already and see for yourself what has inspired all the praise.

Keep in mind this is an all ages book so it'd make a great gift for younger readers as well, in fact I was planning on giving away a copy myself, but I'm just going to have to buy another because I enjoyed the book so much that I'm going to make sure I keep one for myself.

For More be sure to visit andyrunton.com and topshelfcomix.com.

MANHUNTER
Written by Marc Andreyko

While Marvel had District X as its sleeper hit, DC had books like Manhunter, both featuring low tier characters with great potential and drawing rave reviews. If you've been keeping up you may even notice some parallels between the two stories.

Manhunter, as I see it, at its core is really about an addictive personality. Meet Kate Spencer, top federal prosecutor whose main focus is on putting away super-villains. But they never do stay put away do they? Fed up Kate steals confiscated weaponry and hunts down the criminals herself to deliver some of her own brand of justice.

But cense becoming the new manhunter her life has become nothing short of fucked and she's constantly driven to keep turning to her new second life, despite the danger she causes for herself and to those around her. She tends to use the costumed life as a way to run from her real life, a real life where she's a bad mother, where her best efforts working with the law are continually spit upon as jails operate with revolving doors

Now like all new books featuring new characters, despite all the rave reviews, there's always the storm cloud of cancellation looming never too far. I'd say the book has plenty of issues to go still but increased sales always help to ensure that. If you've enjoyed some of the new crop of books from DC like HARD TIME, H.E.R.O., BLOODHOUND and DEADSHOT then Manhunter is certainly worth checking out [Hopefully available in trade format sooner rather then later].

On top of which, the book is gorgeous, originally featuring the art of Jesus Saiz and now Javier Pina. Featuring some great covers by Jae Lee and Jesus. AND, if you're into the whole Countdown hubalah going down, Manhunter has already displayed ties leading up to the event, not only earlier ties to IDENTITY CRISIS but forthcoming series like VILLAINS UNITED.



That's it for this week but before I go I'd like to do some convention season plugging, it's already upon us and so far it's looking great. I'll be in attendance at the majority of the Toronto Events, starting with the Paradise Comic Convention on April 29th, 30th and May 1st. Guests include Warren Ellis, Dave Sim, Brian Michael Bendis, Golden Age artist Jerry Robinson, Bill Willingham and more. The Toronto Comicon will also introduce the Shuster Awards, the voting period has just been completed and the Awards will showcase Comic book Talent within Canada in categories such as best writer, artist, cartoonist, publisher and my favourite, Outstanding Canadian Achievement. For more info be sure to visit torontocomicon.com.




Next up on May 27th-29th is TCAF, The Toronto Comics Art Festival, which is shaping up to the biggest show of the year. As for the guestlist, frankly it'd just be easiest to say EVERYBODY. Just about Every-freaking-body will be in attendance, Jeff Smith, James Jean, Kid Koala [who will also be performing], Gary Panter, Seth, Chester Brown, Phoebe Gloeckner, David Heatly, Tara McPherson, Jim Rugg, Gary Panter, Paul Pope, Brian Wood, Tony Millionaire, a handful of FLIGHT contributors including Kazu Kibuishi, and tons of creators whose work you'll be familiar with from Top Shelf Comix, Oni Press, Drawn & Quarterly and more. A lot more. Aside from the festival itself there are sure to be a long list of events in the days leading up to and taking place during the Festival.

TCAF will also be host for the Doug Wright Awards, whose panel of judges alone is impressive, not to mention the creators up for awards themselves. More on the Awards at time-cat.com/wrights.html.

Also be sure to check out COMICS FESTIVAL! on Free Comic Book Day, from the same people brining you TCAF comes this free 40-page comic featuring covers by James Jean and Darwyn Cooke as well as a slew of contributors. For More on COMICS FESTIVAL! visit torontocomics.com/tcaf/fcbd/.

For a full guest list, info on events, accommodations and more visit torontocomics.com/tcaf/.


At the end of August is the Canadian National Expo which has grown over the years to include not only comics but Anime, Sci-fi, Horror and starting this year, Gaming as well. Becoming not one, but actually several conventions all tied together under one roof. Last year was the first time the 'Festival of Fear' was tied into the convention and really it has been the best addition over the years. Drawing in guests like George Romero, Alejandro Jodorowsky and my favourite feature, the incredible and amazing artist, Joe Coleman. The guest list has yet to be announced for 2005 but I've heard rumblings and Rue Morgue may be the shining star once again with the Horror addition to the event.

For more info, visit Canadian National Expo.com.

 

Jonathan Ellis is Co-Editor in Chief of PopImage


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