IN CASE U MISSED IT: Crush Linking

It's Valentines Day, so thought I'd link to a few points of interest out there I'm crushing on right now...
A couple good write ups on the late great Steve Gerber:
THE BEAT
PERMANENT DAMAGE

A new column on BrokenFrontier.com looking at publishing/creating/starting out in comics, with the first installment on about the different options to take a book:
Delusions of Grandeur
This one looks worth following, either if you think about going this route, or wonder what's involved.

There looks like a cool new pulp inspired book, stocked to the gills with talented industry creators coming soon, as previewed in this weeks Lying In The Gutters:
Five Color Comics

And last but not least, potentially good news for Flash Gordon fans, a new publishing upstart, Ardden Entertainment, co-helmed by Rich Emms formerly of Markosia and AP Comics, has obtained a license to produce new comics based on the property, that look to take inspiration for the serials, with their own spin on it:
Newsarama feature
We'll see, we all know how the SCI-FI TV series turned out... It does look like they might have something in time for New York Comic Con, so cool! I'll be there, and will check it out!!
Here's hoping!!!

And then of course, the news that the new Clone Wars CG animated TV show will bow in movie theaters this August!!!

DeviantArt - Flash Gordon

Last year, I got on a Flash Gordon kick, with the new Sci-Fi TV series coming up, I was anxious for that, and revisiting the Flash of my youth.

In 1980 the Flash Gordon movie came out, and I was pumped for it from the first teaser ad on TV. I still remember watching that first trailer, on my parents old black and white (10", 12" ?!?) set, and describing it to them in a rush, down to the colors of the bad guys outfits (red, which of course is a shade of gray on the set, so whatever)...
Seeing the movie time and again, it was a childhood favorite, no Star Wars, but certainly up there. Around the same time there was a Flash Gordon cartoon I remember being all excited about too.

Going back and revisiting them, I've only grown to appreciate the movie more, with it's lavish sets and costumes, and it's fun and sexy vibe, it's a visual treat that's only heightened by Queen's epic soundtrack!
While the cartoon is of good quality, it's hard to compete with today's animation, and I've yet to get past the first couple episodes.

The new TV show though, was a big letdown. There was no quality treatment like what was bestowed on Battlestar Galactica, just a pale imitation of the concept. It is however passable sci-fi entertainment, but lacking in any real spark that a new generation would fall in love with.

So, before the show launched, amidst my reborn interest with Flash and it's pulpy science fiction roots, I did a sketch inspired by the movie version... which I just resurfaced and finished up with some colors.

In re-Googling reference material to finish it up, I also came across this Japanese movie poster gem...
I'd love to do a Flash Gordon comic series, but rather than mess with that, I've found a way to incorporate a concept inspired by it into another project I'm working on for this year!

I SAW IT ON TV: summer roundup

Things have been so busy lately, I haven't had time to blog...
So, I'll try and touch on everything outside the realm of Super Real in the coming weekends (the upcoming weeks are reserved for behind-the-scenes material on the upcoming book)!

First up, here's some of the TV we've been watching this summer...

FLASH GORDON - SCIFI

Now three episodes in, this SCI-FI series is a decidedly vanilla, low budget affair.
The magic of the campy, fairly adult but goofy 80's movie romp that made me a Flash fan is barely found in the TV show. Nor the pure sci-fi action I vaguely recall from the cartoon series of the same era.

This new series settles into an Earth based drama, where "Flash" must try and continuously find portals to Mongo to eventually rescue his long lost father. Cue episodes of things coming to Earth one at a time and wreaking low grade havoc that's wrapped up by show end, and repeat. With questionable casting (most notably Ming and anything that passes for a villain) and horrible sets and costumes.

Yet somehow, I still find it mildly entertaining, certainly more for what it could be than what it is.
MILDLY RECOMMENDED

THE HENRY ROLLINS SHOW - IFC

Take one aging punk rock icon, apply his ever honest approach to all things real in life, and give him a show where he shares his views, sits down with an interesting and often iconic guest, and then showcases incredible musical acts you've either never heard of, or that no one else has.

Makes for a great counter culture show, that's so real and honest, you wish everything had the same spirit and craft.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

FLIGHT OF THE CONCORDS - HBO

Almost set to wrap up it's first season, Concords is the most original and fresh show on TV since Curb Your Enthusiasm, or any other HBO standout. Bret and Jemaine are two Kiwi's (New Zealenders) struggling to make it as a band in NYC. It's a half hour comedy with zany characters and deadpan humor, mixed with musical comedy. Yes, musical comedy skits. The boys break out into song according to the direction of any given episode, aping a style that suits it. Which makes for some often hilarious, and wholly original viewing.

The first couple episodes are gold, then you catch the formula, and the repetitive jokes, and the next couple episodes are a bit flat, but from there they get better and better. It's one of the best things on TV!

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

JOHN FROM CINCINNATI - HBO

Deadwood ended abruptly, and it's creator, David Milch, moved on with this surf-centric San Diego tale, that replaces an old west town and it's grimy cast, with a seedy SD burg and a dysfunctional family and their neighbors. It's often forced, Milch's trademark dialogue is far better suited for an old west saloon, then modern society, at least when everyone is given to spout the trademark cursing flourishes. Some of the actors, actual surfers, can be downright bad, and the whole things a bit out there, but darn if it wasn't mostly fun. (Not to mention, half of the huge ensemble cast were from Deadwood too.)

Too bad it won't be back for season two.

RECOMMENDED