Steel City Serenade #1 Cover Preview

A Monday morning bonus blog because I got my hands on something exciting.

Zach Bosteel, my artist/co-creator on Steel City Serenade just sent over his cover for issue one. I love it, I think Zach hit a very Kyle Baker vibe with it.

 

Zach's hard at work on the breakdowns, which means I should probably start thinking about starting to break the script for Issue #2. Our goal, at this point, is to make Steel City Serenade a quarterly publication

As always, you can find a digital version of issue #0 at Zach's website. I think it gives a flavor for what we're going for, and gives you an ever-so-brief look at the ultimate "big bad" of the series, or at least his followers. Give it a read, and shoot me some thoughts and comments on the writing. I love feedback, good or bad.

Don't worry. The next Springsteen entry should be up later today.

Yup. It's Tuesday.

Have a film audition tonight. Might prove to be interesting.

I have come to the decision that there are a number of things I have to get done in the relatively near future;

1. Learn my lines for Sound of a Yellow Flower.
2. Read the pile of comic books I haven't yet gotten to from the last two weeks.
3. Work on some music. I've been putting it off way too long. That drum track is just...sitting there.
4. Work on the play script I've had "in process" for the last 6 months.
5. Work on the plot for the comic project that I was contacted about.
6. Start on the script for Steel City Serenade #2.

Sometimes I'm astounded by how much of a procrastinator I can be. I ENJOY doing all of these things, yet I'll find reasons not to. It's not like working out, which I seem to be able to do every morning. I guess I work better on schedules.

I am really, really excited to work on music again, honestly...So why do I get all "Man, do I have to set this all up?" when I want to work?

It's silly. I need to focus.

New Comic Day 8.11.2010

It's a light week for me, thank God, because I haven't managed to get to my shop to pick up last weeks books yet. Since that was a pretty big week, this is a bit of a relief.

Booster Gold #35

Written by KEITH GIFFEN and J.M. DEMATTEIS
Art by CHRIS BATISTA and RICH PEROTTA
Cover by KEVIN MAGUIRE

Back in the past, Booster Gold is mistaken for himself and embarks on an untold journey in space with Blue Beetle to obtain a rare and secret artifact. Needless to say, their mission goes horribly, horribly wrong…

I love that this book is first on the list, because, as far as superhero fare, I will hazard to say this is the most fun I am having with a book right now. Giffen and DeMatteis re-visit the land of Justice League International, literally, using our time-traveling hero Booster Gold. It's sheer joy, funny and exciting in equal measure.

When I was at SDCC, I picked up three volumes of Justice League International trade paperbacks, mainly because this series has made me remember why I loved them so much. They also represent a sense of fun and truly unleashed imagination. Keith and J.M. just let themselves go with this stuff, crafting really entertaining reading on a monthly basis. They aren't worried about being the "coolest" thing on the market, only giving their readers a full $2.99 of fun and entertainment.

Dan Didio and Jim Lee ought to be looking at this sort of stuff, and, while not every series should be this goofy, it should be this much fun to read.

Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #13

COVER BY: DAVID LAFUENTE GARCIA
WRITER: BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
PENCILS: DAVID LAFUENTE GARCIA
INKS: DAVID LAFUENTE GARCIA
COLORED BY: JAYPO LLC
LETTERED BY: NEUROTIC CARTOONIST, INC

There’s no other way to say it: In this issue...Spider-Man’s entire life is completely destroyed. Read the series that has fans and critics hooked as Brian Michael Bendis and David Lafuente rock out another unbelievable issue!

Here's another one. Brian Bendis, who in his SDCC panel told a aspiring writer that using his middle name made him sound like an "asshole, " and he regretted it, when working in the mainstream Marvel Universe, has kinda drank the kool-aid on the "coolness factor" as well. Thing is, out here in his little, Queens-centered, corner of the Marvel Ultimate Universe, he's just cranking out fun, entertaining stories.

The subject matter here probably is a factor. I don't think Bendis is really all that suited to the bombastic world of The Avengers. I think these little stories about teenagers dealing with superpowers, and life in general, is far more conducive to his impressive skill set. His Peter and MJ and Gwen, and the rest always feel like real kids, and, more importantly, real human beings. This series, and Powers, will be his masterpiece, I think.

MAYBE PICKING UP:

Superman #702

Written by J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
Art by EDDY BARROWS and J.P. MAYER
Cover by JOHN CASSADAY
1:25 Variant cover by KEVIN NOWLAN

"Grounded" continues as Superman enters a small town in Ohio where, like many towns, a number of its residents are from other places. But when The Man of Steel discovers that there are also a number of residents secretly from other worlds, he unravels a mystery that may have grave consequences for Earth.

Wow, my morning Diet Mountain Dew was working well, until I saw that cover. What is the deal with dull-ass covers for this series? Look, I know everyone wants to draw an "iconic" Superman cover, but that doesn't mean stagnant. I like a dynamic cover, and I think most readers (and buyers) do too. I mean, Neal Adams can do both:



I mean how about something from the actual story? Y'know, it's not like it's just about Superman walking, or something...

Er. Well...

Look, I got a good vibe from at least the last couple of pages of Superman #701 (my good buddy KenG, the biggest Superman fan I know, absolutely does not agree), so I thought I might give Straczynski a few issues to see what he's doing. I still kinda feel that way, but I can't quite get over the "12 issues of this?" feeling.

I want to like a Superman title, I want to be reading a Superman title, but I can't tell if this is the one. I can say in JMS' defense, he's not going for the "cool" here. This is a meditative story, and clearly he is trying to establish a connection with Superman as an idea, and the real world, both in and out of comics. I think that's a great goal, but I don't know if this is what's going to do it.

DROPPING:

Ultimate Comics Avengers 3 #1

COVER BY: LEINIL FRANCIS YU
WRITER: MARK MILLAR
PENCILS: STEVE DILLON
INKS: ANDY LANNING

Blade is back in a bad way and that can only mean one thing: vampires are afoot! Somebody is leaving behind a bloody trail of bite marks and Blade’s stake-ready to take them on. Could the mysterious figure donned in an iron suit have something to do with it? And who exactly is the new figure leaping around down in a devil costume? As the Avengers get deeper into black ops, there’s no telling who’ll be thirsting for blood and who’ll be next on the menu! Bite into the next exhilarating series of ULTIMATE COMICS AVENGERS by superstar creators MARK MILLAR (CIVIL WAR, KICK-ASS) and STEVE DILLON (PUNISHERMAX)!

Oh, no...Millar, you are a cheap hack, and no tease of a "new Daredevil" is gonna get me to drop another $3.99 (yeah, no kidding...no back-up feature, or anything) on this garbage. Take some time off, count your movie money, and see if you can't come up with a story and characters that will make me care again.

ON THE PERSONAL SIDE:

When I pick up my books this week (likely Saturday), I'll be dropping off some copies of Steel City Serenade #0, by myself, Mark Pracht, and Zach Bosteel, at Chicago Comics for consignment sale. I'm thinking $1.50 for the 12-page zero issue. If you want to swing by and pick one up, please do.



It's also available digitally, for free, at the Steel City Serenade page on Zach's website.

New Comic Day 6.30.2010

Hello, Kids...What do we have this week?

The Flash #3

Written by GEOFF JOHNS
Art and cover by FRANCIS MANAPUL
1:10 variant cover by GREG HORN

It may be BRIGHTEST DAY, but when a mysterious group of so-called heroes turns up, another Rogue ends up dead. Plus, the mystery deepends as The Flash witness another murder — his own!

The flash is my 3rd favorite superhero, right behind Batman and Spider-Man. It's also a character that's been a victim of mishandling more often in the last few years than I can count. I love Geoff Johns as a writer, and Manapul is obviously a talented artist.

So why am I already bored?

I'll tell you why. No matter how much nostalgia you wrap him in, Barry Allen just isn't as dynamic a character as former Kid Flash/former Flash Wally West. Look, DC, it's not like I'm gonna stop buying it, I have a full run going back many years. I even bought the crappy run where Bart (Impulse/Kid Flash) Allen was promoted to the top tier. Wally, however, was the character that made me love the Flash.

Wally got ran into the ground himself, with the perfect wife and kiddies, but the classic version of Wally, the young man who wasn't nearly as heroic as he was supposed to be. The Flash who was always contending with the memory of his mentor, Barry. That was dynamic, and it gave a lot of us a real psychological hook to bond us to him as a character. Compared to the "feet of clay" Wally, Barry just seems stiff and dull. The problem is, you've had the entire Flash: Rebirth mini-series and three issues of the regular series to get me invested, and you haven't.

I love this concept, I believe in Geoff Johns. Please get things turned around.

Green Lantern #55

Written by GEOFF JOHNS
Art and cover by DOUG MAHNKE & CHRISTIAN ALAMY

BRIGHTEST DAY marches on as the Main Man, Lobo, goes head-to-head with Red Lantern Atrocitus – with Hal Jordan caught in the middle! It doesn't get more brutal than this! Plus, Hector Hammond returns . . . to join the new Guardians?

On the other hand, everything's snapping right along with Green Lantern. Now we have a guest shot by...Lobo?

*sigh* couldn't we have left him in the 90's?

Justice League of America #46

Written by JAMES ROBINSON
Art by MARK BAGLEY & ROB HUNTER
Cover by MARK BAGLEY & JESUS MERINO

BRIGHTEST DAY continues with the start of an all-new, 5-part JLA/JSA crossover! The return of one hero heralds the release of the powerful Starheart that empowers Green Lantern Alan Scott. Now this chaotic force is unleashed on Earth, causing magic to go wild – and new metahumans to emerge! It's more than one super-team can handle, but can even the combined efforts of the Justice League and the Justice Society contain the light and dark power wielded by one of their own? Witness the transformation of the moon and a journey into the Shadow Lands that will corrupt a hero!

Continued in next month's JSA #41, this epic event features a 5-part connected cover spotlighting both teams in glorious action illustrated by Mark Bagley with inks by Jesus Merino!

This is the moment of truth with this series, for me. I dearly, dearly love Mark Bagley's art, but I'm giving Robinson this crossover (buying 2 issues of Justice Society of America, to boot) to snap things into shape. If it doesn't happen, I'm facing the real prospect of dropping a series drawn by Bagley, for the first time ever.

Captain America #607

COVER BY: Marko Djurdjevic
WRITER: Ed Brubaker & Sean McKeever
PENCILS: David Baldeon & Butch Guice

THE HEROIC AGE IS HERE! Zemo and Bucky -- two characters linked through history whether they like it or not. And now Zemo has set his sights on Bucky and plans to destroy our new Captain America one step at a time. Part 2 of the senses-shattering "No Escape" arc will rock Bucky's world to the core!

Waiting...waiting...waiting...for Steve Rogers to be Captain America again. You can be damn sure it'll happen by next summer, when the movie comes out..."THE HEROIC AGE" is also continuing to be a non-starter, as far as making me care to pick up any more Marvel books.

Also, once again, I'm directing you to check out the free digital issue #0 of Steel City Serenade, which I scripted. I'd love to hear feedback.

Steel City Serendae #0 - FOR FREE.

Hello friends and readers.

One of my dreams has been to write a comic book.

Well, with a little help from my friends, as Ringo said, I did it.

Sure, it's not DC or Marvel, it's self published. Hard copies will be available in a shortly, but for the artist I've been working with, Zach Bosteel, and myself, digital publishing has always been a big part of our plan. Well, our introductory 12-page issue #0 is now up at Zach's website.

Just click thru on the cover below.



All comments and criticism, on the writing, anyway, and even praise, can be left in the comments section.

The Comic Book Project Revealed

Ok, I know it's not as exciting as the massive production of Cherrywood that David Cromer is directing, but I got permission from the fantastic artist I've partnered with, Zach Bosteel, to share with my readers the cover of our comic book project, Steel City Serenade.

It's a .jpeg copy of the original .pdf, so forgive the slight blurriness.



I really love what Zach did here. It's a great cover image.

This will be a 12-page "zero" issue. At this point, Zach has finished the pencils and inks, and the pages look good. He's planning to make up some ashcan editions to take to Kids Read Comics, a free event in Dearborn, Michigan on June 12th and 13th. I can't attend due to theatre commitments, but if you go, look for Zach, and ask him for a copy.

The plan is to have a short, professional printing run for Zach and I to take to the San Diego Comic Con in July. We won't have a booth, or anything, but I plan to hand out every last copy I take, free of charge. So, if you happen to run into us, (y'know, if we stand out in the crowds of 125,000) just ask, and he, or I, will drop one on you.

As for the future. The plan is to explore digital distribution, and also having reasonable print runs. Zach is really big on digital comics, I know he's right about that, but I'm pretty much a Luddite, I like the paper in my hands. I just finished a first draft for issue #1 last night, so, pending re-writes, things are proceeding really quite well.

I'm really excited, to tell you the truth. I've always wanted to try my hand at scripting comics, and I almost can't believe I'll be able to hold a comic book, with my name on it, in my hands.