Life In Four Colors:
The Final Space Walk
Well let's open the air lock one last time and take our final walk amongst the stars that shined ever so bright at S.P.A.C.E. Con 2009.
Uncle Samson and the Phantoms of Lost Liberty: Red, White, and Bruised Ashcan.
Dave Arhar and Penny Dreadful Press prove without a doubt that this man and the company he has forged are very capable of producing strong stories that can not be labeled as just "horror comics." Don't get me wrong...I love the books produced by PDP and written with such creative flair by Mr. Arhar thus far, all of which do fit to a certain degree in the "horror comic click" if you want to label them as that. But to do so would be an injustice. Dave's stories are layered with a believability be it through the use of true human emotion of true historical fact that calling them just horror comics either gives the impression that horror comics are always this good, which they are not. Or Dave's work only works in this genre.
That is incorrect as well as this ashcan is a testimony to. Dave has a true love for super-hero comics, but at the same time wants to do super-hero comics his way. The Penny Dreadful Press way. And believe me if this ashcan is any indication of what's in store for us the world of independent comics is going to be that much better due to his efforts and the efforts of newly acquired artist Jim Sullivan.
Dave goes to his bottomless well of ideas one more time and couples those same ideas with an intense quote from actual history to weave what promises to be one of the most entertaining "super-hero stories" you will ever run across.
"To those who scare peace-loving people with phantoms of lost liberty, my message is this. Your tactics only aid the terrorists for they erode our unity, and diminish our resolve. They give ammunition to America's enemies and pause to America's friends."
- Attorney General John Ashcroft: December 2001
More info about U.S.P.O.L.L and PDP.
Staying with the whole special agents of the government theme just a little longer....let's take a look at a book simply entitled Agent Z from Pickle Press productions.
Agent Z #1 was specially priced for the S.P.A.C.E. show and I do believe issue #2 is already out and was at the table but I had run out of money and couldn't pick it up. After reading the first issue I'm now cursing myself for giving into the temptation of buying that last Cherry Dr. Pepper with a "Kiss" of cherry flavor.
That stuff is addictive.
But so is this book. Written and created by Nick Havert, penciled by Federico Zumel and inked by Timothy Shea this book tells the story of Special Agent Zach Ash. I man who has stumbled upon a secret or two. Secrets that have cost him his life.
A couple times over.
Ash is not a zombie, but Havert does do a good job of giving the readers all the clues that they need to figure out just why Ash won't stay dead. Solid story and great art that reminds me in a very good way of some of the artwork that graced the pages of the Wonder Man series in the early nineties or the Master of Kung Fu and Daredevil in the late eighties...all of which produced by an artist named William Johnson.
And although Ash has a tendency to not stay dead for long, I'm sure it's not a trait that many of his friends have and it seems to be a theory that Havert is going to put to the test next issue. Nick leaves the story hanging on a very gripping cliffhanger and thanks to that addictive cherry soda and my loyalties to the spokesperson for the product I have to wait a while to see just how this story turns out.
I'll just have to add issue #2 of Agent Z to my list of things I need to check out as soon as humanly possible. Already on this list is a digital comic called Even Ra produced by writer Jeremy Martinez and artist Brandon Groves of Organized Chaos seen here talking to Raichal in a recorded podcast interview.
Jeremy, a very cool and fun loving guy, is to Raichal's immediate right and Brandon is to her left. The two are joined by their friend Eric Shook. Thankfully Raichal did pick up a copy of their Even Ra digital comic and I'm just waiting to get my mitts on it!
Even Ra is based on a role playing game also created by Martinez called Even Ra World of the Two Suns and I'm sure that Jeremy and Brandon both go into more details during the interview which should be going up on the Comic Related website any time now.
Until then feel free to drop by their website www.EvenRa.com to get some info for yourself right now and just check out a small sample of the incredible artwork by Brandon.
There were a couple of things I didn't have to wait for. Like issue #2 of The Chimera Strikes written and created by Mike Indovina and illustrated by Paul E. Schultz.
I picked up the very first issue of this new series last fall at Mid-Ohio Con and I promised Mike although I ran out of money early Saturday afternoon that I would stop by his table the very first thing Sunday morning and pick up this book.
I love Chimera....everything about him. Can't get enough of the character, the book, and the supporting characters of the book like his leading lady Andrea Webb who is always on the verge of stealing our hero's spotlight, just like Mike intended, and the mysterious nemesis known only as the Voice.
Issue #2 is a very fast paced adventure tale that plays homage to the pulp/noir feel that gives the story its birth and Schultz stylistic artwork is perfect for breathing life into the story in each and every action filled panel.
Mike seems to have even bigger plans for Ms. Webb as this story implies that she is in store for some possible major changes.
In my endeavors to involve myself more and more with the world of small press comics, books like The Chimera Strikes are quickly becoming favorites. Books that I can't do without and eagerly wait for each issue.
And another book that joins the likes of those books that always leaves me wanting the next one. Right now. This very instant... is the Serial Squad.
While talking to editor Jon Hodges and the owner of Bad Place Productions which publishes this book while the two of us were hanging out at Gem City Comic Con a few weeks back he mentioned issue #1 of the new on going Serial Squad series would be available at the S.P.A.C.E. show, at that time just two weeks away.
I knew at that very moment if I only walked away with just one comic while getting lost in S.P.A.C.E. it was going to be Serial Squad #1.
Without hesitation it was my very first purchase of the show and the first comic I read that night (although I did read the U.S.P.O.L.L. ashcan before sitting down with this book).
Speaking of ashcans....I meet Paul Schultz, creator, writer, and illustrator of the Serial Squad at last years' S.P.A.C.E. show at which time I picked up the ashcan preview of the book.
Honestly I wasn't very impressed.
I ran into Hodges at Mid-Ohio. He talked me into picking up the full length book which had just come out. Even tossed in the ashcan preview for the first issue of the upcoming ongoing series.
Am I glad he was so persistent. The Serial Squad one shot was the best book I brought home from that show. The second best book....Serial Squad ashcan for the forthcoming issue #1.
I was hooked.
I can honestly say IF I had to choose between a copy of Serial Squad and a Cherry Dr. Pepper. Serial Squad wins!
As soon as I read that ashcan last year I was dying to see a copy of the whole book and just a few months later I eagerly picked the book in question up. The book itself according to both Paul and John (wow does those two names just sound good together or what?!?) had just came off the presses less than 24 hours ago and just barely made it to the show.
Man that was close.
After reading it Saturday night I talked to the guys at Bad Place about how much liked the story early the next morning. I told Paul I was rather concerned about the fate of one of my favorite characters but he eased my mind just a bit by showing me the cover of issue #2 that had the character I was worried about on the cover.
Issue #2 is scheduled to come out in the fall of this year, hopefully before Mid-Ohio Con 2009 and may well be the best book I pick up at that show for the second year in a row.
Jon had to curb my enthusiasm just a little when I mentioned ...about three times ( I think) that I can't wait to pick up issue #2, but reminding me, "Bill issue #1 just came out less than two days ago....you've got to give us a little time."
Cool. I understand. Gives me time too. Time to read Serial Squad the one-shot and the new first issue back to back.....as soon as I finish typing this!
More info about Serial Squad www.badplaceproductions.com
You're going to want to pick up a copy of both books. You can quote me on that.
You can also quote me on this.....
S.P.A.C.E Con 2009 was incredible and remains the best place to meet the very best of the stars of tomorrow today.
See you there next year.
And now a word from our sponsor.
Bill Gladman - Bill is a writer and illustrator and currently working on several different projects including the first issue of an ongoing comic book series (Prodigy), an illustrated fantasy novel (The Book of Noheim), and the first of four illustrated science fiction/fantasy novels (Jack the Rabbit, Living Legend of the Purple Plains) as well as a light-hearted on going mini-comic (Three Wise Men). Bill also pens a column for Comic Related and will be doing a mix of regional convention coverage.
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