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UNTIL YOUR HEART STOPS v10.5
by Brian Domingos
The Halfway Point
September 14th, 2005
Okay, let's see what's going on here. On Sunday I finished the rough draft to my OGN. Clocking in at 112 pages, it was nothing short of exhausting.
I wrote for about six hours that day and did corrections and edits (typos and scene-to-scene continuity) all day Monday and most of yesterday. It's funny to see how the characters have progressed since I first started a couple years back and now it's good to see that the funny bits still make me chuckle. I printed out the whole thing and it covered 134 pages which is a ton to correct, but it's fun anyway. I must say that I'm rather proud of myself.
Now, I just need to find an artist. I started looking today around some artist message boards and it wasn't too impressive. I need to invest some time here and more on that comes later.
As for regular comic stuff, there's next to nothing going on, news-wise. Warren Ellis opened his new forum last week, Engine, and it's a pretty good set up. There were about 1,400 posts in the "Introduce Yourself" thread, so be ready for a delay. It's in the BeeHive format which is just like the Delphi system – but different. It's better than the standard UBB/phpBB which you find at Millarworld, Bendis' board and, actually, pretty much every other place that's not on Delphi. But I hate that format because I always lose my place because I have to click on the thread I want and then oh no that's not the right one so I click back and oh shit where was I and I just hate dealing with that. With BeeHive/Delphi the topics are always on the left and you and pick and chose at your leisure. They are a lot easier for the casual reader of threads, which I like.
 I was lucky enough to get an advanced copy of the first issue of the new Brian Wood series LOCAL. It's hard for me to immediately not compare this to DEMO because it is similarly themed. Both books feature 20-somethings in situations out of their control and with DEMO the characters make the best out of their situations. The difference here is that in LOCAL the character goes one more step and does take control.
It's a play on the idea that "you only have one shot at it so you'd better make it right". Megan McKeenan plays this one event of her day over and over again – looking at it from different angles and possibilities – until she finds one that works for her and she goes for it. It takes a couple pages to see where it's going, but it's really very interesting. And I liked that it was like a renewal for Wood a way to take the DEMO concept to the next level. It was a process that worked but he like Megan says, "Okay, now it's time for this" and the series moves on to new areas.
I also like the idea that the book is moving to specific locales – namely places that don't get featured in that many comics – because a simple change of position can give a person such a different perspective. It'll be interesting to see what Wood does with all of these different places.
I can't talk about LOCAL without talking about Ryan Kelly. I know Kelly's work from GIANT ROBOT WARRIORS and as half the 1/3rd of the art team of LUCIFER, but it's here that he really takes off. His work is expressive and dense, a perfect fit for what Wood is doing here. And yeah, I see some similarities to people like Paul Pope, Troy Nixey and Farel Dalrymple, but Kelly is an artist in and to himself. He might just be next year’s artist to watch. I’m glad to see that he’s on a worthy project.
For added layers to the series, please check out the work blog and see the bits and pieces of procedural stuff as well as some 'Local' stories about people and the small towns they grew up in. We're one issue in and I can't help but recommend LOCAL to any and all. There's something for everyone.
I wasn’t planning on picking it up, but I found the first issue of SHOCKING GUN TALES! and the cover really grabbed me. It’s a square-bound book with six short stories, all of which are somewhat based on firearms. I don’t think that I was familiar with any of the creators going in to it. The stories themselves range from “Excellent” to “Eh” but the artwork is really good. I specifically liked “The Snowman” by George T. Singley and Ethen Beavers, the two stories by Jason Meeks, “One Bullet” and “Never Enough Time” (which was written by Singley) and finally “A Violent End” by Vinton Heuck.
I don’t know anything about the publisher, Cellar Door Publishing but I’ll be keeping my eyes open for more from them. If you can find it, you should give it a shot.
Upcoming
Books of note shipping September 14th, 2005
JUL050296 100 BULLETS #64 (MR) $2.75
JUN052764 100 GIRLS #6 $2.95
MAY050191 ABSOLUTE BATMAN HUSH OVERSIZED HC $49.99
JUL050211 ACTION COMICS #831 $2.50
- JUL050189 ALL STAR BATMAN AND ROBIN THE BOY WONDER #2
DC Comics
$2.99
Okay – so the first issue wasn't so hot. I thought it was pretty good – certainly not as good as it could have been, but it wasn't bad. I'm really interested to see how far Miller takes the Robin thing. I think he's got some sick ideas in store. Jim Lee looks good, too, and, hey, it's going to end up being better than the mess that was "Hush" so we'll just sit back and enjoy.MAY052362 AMERICAS GREATEST COMICS #12 $6.95
JUN052956 ANGRY YOUTH COMIX #9 (MR) $3.50
JUL051645 ANT #2 $2.99
JUN052770 ARCHIE #560 $2.25
JUN052773 ARCHIE DOUBLE DIGEST #164 $3.59
JUL052722 BART SIMPSONS TREEHOUSE OF HORROR #10 (O/A) $4.99
JUL052720 BART SIMPSONS TREEHOUSE OF HORROR #8 (O/A) $3.50
JUL052721 BART SIMPSONS TREEHOUSE OF HORROR #9 (O/A) $4.99
- JUL050193 BATMAN: LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT #195
DC Comics
$2.50
I was thinking, a moment ago, about the current Bat-books and they're actually pretty good right now. David Lapham and Ramon Bachs are kicking ass on DETECTIVE COMICS and Doug Mahnke continues to make Judd Winick look good. I think the best story out right now, though, is "Snow" here in LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT. And it's not just because artist Seth Fisher is a fucking genius (although he is) and it's not the tight snappy script from Dan C. Johnson – it's all of it put together. The Origin of Mr. Freeze should be a straight forward snooze fest, but instead Johnson and J. H. Williams, III have thought up a clever story about Batman and his need for information years before Oracle. As you can imagine, it's not going too well. It sure is a cool read, though. Great stuff.JUL050259 BATMAN STRIKES #13 $2.25
JUN053110 BLACKPOOL #2 $2.95
JUL050051 BLADE OF THE IMMORTAL #105 (MR) $2.99
NOV040023 BMW FILMS THE HIRE #3 (OF 6) $2.99
JUL051647 BONE REST #3 (MR) $2.99
- JUL050219 BREACH #9
DC Comics
$2.50
BREACH continues to be one of the best books that DC puts out. The mystery is solid and the back drop strong. The artwork is tight as well. Bob Harras and Marcos Martin have outdone themselves. It's a shame it's been canned.MAR058097 CARDCAPTOR SAKURA VOL 1-4 MASTER OF THE CLOW SET (PP #670) $19.99
JUN053216 CINDERELLA CINEMANGA GN $7.99
JUL051871 DAREDEVIL VS PUNISHER #4 (OF 6) $2.99
JUL051704 DARKNESS #23 $2.99
JUL051706 DARKNESS & TOMB RAIDER B&W CVR #1 $2.99
- JUL050282 DESOLATION JONES #3 (MR)
Wildstorm/DC Comics
$2.99
I liked the first two issues of DESOLATION JONES. Warren Ellis and Williams are supplying some interesting characters and a nice twisted story.MAY052727 DF JSA CLASSIFIED #1 TEAM SGN $49.99
JUN052765 EL ARSENAL #2 (OF 3) (MR) $2.95
JUN052669 ELECTRIC GIRL VOL 3 TP $13.95
JUL052733 ELRIC OF MELNIBONE GN (O/A) PI
JUN052879 ELVIRA #148 $2.50
JUL050300 FABLES #41 (MR) $2.75
JUL051878 FANTASTIC FOUR PRESENTS FRANKLIN RICHARDS SON OF A GENIUS $2.99
JUL051652 FERRO CITY #2 $2.99
JUL050225 FIRESTORM #17 $2.50
- JUN052668 FULL MOON FEVER OGN
AiT/Planet Lar
$12.95
FULL MOON FEVER is the first story about about Werewolves on the Moon because no one else bothered to think about it before. It's a killer idea. I can't wait to see what Joe Casey and Caleb Gerard do with it. And, of course, I'm eager to see more work from HEMOGOBLIN artist Damian Couceiro. JUL051932 GAMBIT HATH NO FURY TP $14.99
JUL051889 GRAVITY #4 (OF 5) $2.99
JUL050229 GREEN ARROW #54 $2.50
JUL050230 HAWKMAN #44 $2.50
- JUL050301 HELLBLAZER: BLACK FLOWERS TPB (MR)
Vertigo/DC Comics
$14.99
It's always nice to see more HELLBLAZER work from Mike Carey. This collection contains three stories from three artists – Marcelo Frusin, Lee Bermejo and some dude called Jock. I actually remember buying the Jock issue just to see what he was like because THE LOSERS hadn't come out yet. Yeah. These are from a long time ago.JUN053325 HOWLS MOVING CASTLE FILM COMICS VOL 2 TP $9.99
JUN053154 HUNGER #4 (MR) $2.99
JUL052734 INDIAN LOVER TP (O/A) PI
- JUL050234 JLA #118
DC Comics
$2.50
So far this Geoff Johns/Allen Heinburg JLA story has been just so-so. I think it has something to do with the retro artwork of Chris Batista. I don't really know – but it's not resonating as much as it should. With all the things that have happened in the DC Universe in the last 18 months, not to mention all the stuff coming up in the next year, I'd think that this story in particular would hit much harder. But it's not – not really – and we'll see how it works out.JUL050238 JSA #77 $2.50
MAY050093 KOTOBUKIYA STAR WARS DARTH VADER #2 MODEL KIT $99.99
JUL052735 LOST CAUSE JOHN WESLEY HARDIN SC (O/A) PI
- JUL050287 MAJESTIC #9
Wildstorm/DC Comics
$2.99
I do love MAJESTIC. I don't know why I do – it must be the Wildstorm kid in me – but this is one of my most anticipated books. The scripts are always fun and the artwork is intense and bombastic. I think it's a general return to Fun Comics. And that's always nice. And isn't Zealot in this issue? I think so. Kick. Ass.JUL051872 MARVEL KNIGHTS 4 #22 $2.99
JUL051867 MARVEL KNIGHTS SPIDER-MAN #18 $2.99
JUN052056 MARVEL MASTERWORKS DOCTOR STRANGE VOL 2 HC VARIANT ED $54.99
JUN052055 MARVEL MASTERWORKS DOCTOR STRANGE VOL 2 NEW ED HC $49.99
JUL051896 MARVEL NEMESIS IMPERFECTS #5 (OF 6) $2.99
JUN052049 MARVEL TALES FLIP MAGAZINE #3 $3.99
- JUL050288 MATADOR #5 (OF 6)
Wildstorm/DC Comics
$2.99
At this point, MATADOR is just sort of sputtering out. I'm enjoying it, though, but it's selling for shit. The stakes were raised last issue and now Izzy's most likely wanted by the police, which is never a good situation to be in. I'm anxious to see The Matador cut loose a bit. And I'll just mention that Lee Loughridge's colors last issue were good, but it's not the same thing as Brian Stelfreeze doing the whole thing (art/colors) himself.JUL051897 MEGA MORPHS #3 (OF 4) $2.99
JUL050305 MNEMOVORE #6 (OF 6) (MR) $2.99
JUL051851 MUTOPIA X #3 (OF 5) $2.99
JUL051885 NEW THUNDERBOLTS #12 $2.99
JUL050201 NIGHTWING #112 $2.50
JUL053061 OF BITTER SOULS #2 $2.99
JUL052737 OZ WONDERLAND CHRONICLES #0 $2.99
JUL050315 PREACHER VOL 5 DIXIE FRIED TP NEW EDITION (MR) $14.99
- JUL051890 THE PULSE #11
Marvel Comics
$2.99
Have you seen the cover to this? Photoshop slave Mike Mayhew had the New Avengers all gathered around Jessica Jones and Luke Cage because of the birth of their new baby. Problem was, the baby was whiter than Kathy Lee Gifford even though it's the child of the white Jessica Jones and Luke Cage, the premier black dude of the Marvel Universe. But no fear, fanboy, because Mayhew slapped a coat of brown on that sucker, making the baby look like it's in the shade while everyone else is in the sun. The original is here and the redo is here. These cover 'artists' like Mayhew and the Gregs (Horn/Land) need to take a hike. In other PULSE news, the interiors look great with Michael (ALIAS) Gaydos taking over and now that Matt Hollingsworth is back, it's going to be one of the best looking books. Oh, and Jamie Fox as Luke Cage? Fuck Off.JUL051923 PUNISHER MAX VOL 1 HC (MR) $29.99
- JUL050247 RANN/ THANAGAR WAR #5 (OF 6)
DC Comics
$2.50
This mini started as one of my favorites but it’s slipped a bit in the standings. The artwork is great – whether it is Ivan Reis or Joe Prado – and the scripts aren't bad but it suffers from a big dose of, "Yeah, I sort of don't care anymore." Six issues is a long time and we're treading water. I didn't even bother to preorder this or the sixth issue, so that I can get the cheaper tpb when it comes out.
JUL050197 ROBIN/ BATGIRL: FRESH BLOOD TPB
DC Comics
$12.99
This thin little collection has two issues from ROBIN and two from BATGIRL and opened with the new status quo set after the "War Games" fiasco. Although I'm not too keen on Bill Willingham's Bat-work, I've found Andersen Gabrych's work to be pretty good. And with art from Damion Scott and Alé Garza & Jesse Delperdang it will certainly look good. Scott was the artist that made me like BATGIRL so much in the first place, so it will be a treat to him drawing her again. Plus, Alé Garza is a stellar artist himself, ensuring that the whole book looks great.JUL051623 RONIN HOOD OF THE 47 SAMURAI OGN $9.99
JUN052659 SALAMANDER DREAM OGN
Adhouse Press
$15.00
I totally forgot to preorder this somehow – I don't know how exactly – but I'll have to get a copy from Hope Larson at SPX. I have to remember to add it to the list this time. I'll likely forget again.JUN052864 SCHOOL BITES VOL 2 GN DLX ED $19.99
JUL050268 SCOOBY DOO #100 $2.25
JUL050104 SIN CITY PLAYING CARDS $4.99
JUL052659 SOULFIRE DYING OF THE LIGHT #2 $2.99
JUL051866 SPIDER-MAN UNLIMITED #11 $2.99
MAY052768 SPUNKY KNIGHT XXX #3 (A) $3.95
APR050063 STAR WARS EMPIRE #34 $2.99
JUN052922 STRONGHOLD #1 (OF 3) $4.95
JUN050044 SUPER MANGA BLAST #55 (MR) $5.99
JUL058029 SUPERMAN BATMAN VOL 2 SUPERGIRL TP $12.99
JUL051882 THOR BLOOD OATH #1 (OF 6) $2.99
JUL051863 TOXIN #6 (OF 6) $2.99
JUL052518 TOYFARE HOT BABES TOY CVR #99 $4.99
JUL052525 ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN ACE EDITION #1 (O/A) PI
JUL051859 ULTIMATE X-MEN #63 $2.50
JUL051903 WEAPON X DAYS OF FUTURE NOW #3 (OF 5) $2.99
- JUL050276 WILDCATS: NEMESIS #1 (OF 9)
Wildstorm/DC Comics
$2.99
Meaghan and I watched a couple of episode of the WILD.C.A.T.s cartoon through OnDemand last night and Holy God, it was bad. It got me thinking about the characters again and all the history we have together. With this book, I hope a couple things happen: I hope that Robbie Morrison doesn't fuck the characters up too much and I'd like to see some decent art from Talent Caldwell. I'm not holding my breath for either part. The pages by Horacio Domingues should look excellent, based on his work on LAZARUS JACK last year or so.
JUL050292 THE WINTER MEN #2 (OF 8) (MR)
Wildstorm/DC Comics
$2.99
I was mildly surprised at how good THE WINTER MEN was. I knew it would look good, because John Paul Leon is a genius, but Bret Lewis' script was really good. Most notably, it was a dense read, with a smooth mix of exposition and characterization. There's a lot of background to get through and Lewis did it so painlessly. I'll be checking out the next one for sure.JUL051709 WITCHBLADE & TOMB RAIDER B&W CVR #1 $2.99
JUL051930 WOLVERINE CLASSIC VOL 2 TP $12.99
JUL051902 X-MEN #175 $2.50
JUL053011 YOU AINT NO DANCER VOL 1 GN (MR) $5.95
MAY052628 ZACHERLEYS MIDNITE TERRORS #1 & #2 PACK $7.95
JUN053088 ZORRO #4 $0.99
That's it for this week. I'll be prepping for SPX next week, so who knows what I'll be talking about. Hopefully something good.
Brian Domingos is the Columns Editor at Popimage.com. Questions? Comments? Love Notes? Email him via brian@popimage.com.
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