RVA Mag

Richmond, VA Culture & Politics Since 2005

Menu

Creators Are The Backbone Of GalaxyCon

|

Topics: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The celebrity signings, merch booths, and high-profile panels are a big attraction, but the true heart of GalaxyCon Richmond is always found in Artist’s Alley.

It’s easy to get distracted by the excitement of meeting your favorite celebrities. Especially actors who portrayed characters in series of our youth, whether in live action projects or voice actors that we could pick out immediately in a crowded room. From Harry Potter and Smallville to newer animes such as My Hero Academia, conventions are the perfect time to get swept up in our comfort-food media of choice.

Often we forget about the creators of all backgrounds who bring the best out of any convention. Comic artists and writers illustrate the worlds and characters we fall in love with from the ground up, and create stories that we get lost in so we can forget about the mundane and painful in our lives. Without the Stan Lees and Jack Kirbys of the world, the world is indeed pure greyscale. 

“I love seeing the energy of everyone being excited about creativity and comics and art,” said Artist Emi Lenox. “It almost encourages me to work more when I get home. It’s like a little boost.”

Lenox is best known for her autobiographical approach to comics, combined with her cute aesthetic. However only time will tell how her approach will change in the future.

“I’m very interested in writing and drawing my own fiction book,” said Lenox. “The comics I’ve done by myself have all been autobiographical, so the next one coming out is autobiographical. I’m hoping after that, I can write my own fiction book comic, and draw it and do the whole thing myself.”

Fan creators hold the seams of all fandoms together like industrial duct tape and military grade thread. Not only is it always fascinating to see everyone’s approach to their favorite comics and films, it is truthfully the best part of any con, especially GalaxyCon.

Few fan creators are as detailed and painstakingly close to film quality as the work of Brazen Monkey by John Marks. Marks is a skilled prop builder and artist who has been creating for thirty years. At this year’s GalaxyCon Marks could be seen with his to scale replicas of Battle Cat from He Man: Masters of the Universe, and switching back and forth between cosplay as Negan from The Walking Dead or Iron Man’s Tony Stark, depending on the day you caught him.

Last year at the 2019 GalaxyCon, he brought what was easily one of the most popular exhibits in the exhibition hall: a to-scale Toothless the Dragon from How to Train Your Dragon. With the help of his girlfriend, he travels to various conventions in the country not only to display his pieces of the moment, but to let convention attendees have the chance to pose with them.

“I have an art degree but was a personal trainer for awhile so I was just doing small things,” said Marks. “I started making things for Halloween every year, then one year I finally decided to build a Hulk. I sculpted a seven foot tall, foam filled Hulk, and the next year I tried to do a convention. I decided to try and see if anyone likes these things.”

Marks charges a nominal fee to pose with — and even climb on top of — his creations and have your picture taken. Eventually he made enough from touring the props around that he was able to quit his day job and focus on his creations. Other creations he has attempted include The Iron Giant, and How To Train Your Dragon‘s Light Fury. While Toothless was a huge hit (I actually tried to interview Marks at GalaxyCon last year but had to give up because of the popularity of his booth), The Iron Giant holds a special place for him.

“The Iron Giant I think was really something that I was pleased I could do,” said Marks. “It was something completely away from what I was used to doing. I was doing a lot of organic builds, and this was going to be more of a challenge to build the neck, so I’m really pleased with that one. It’s kind of hard to say. Something you just hit a perfect wheelhouse.”

Artist Alley is always a big draw at conventions, especially for fans and collectors craving something unique to have in their collection, or sticker number 67 to slap on their water bottle as they walk about the con floor. Of all of the many conventions on the east coast, GalaxyCon Richmond has a solid argument for having the best Artist Alley tables, even in just its second year.

From traditional paint and canvas artists, to creators interested in making unique pieces featuring your favorite characters, to young comic artists and writers hoping that their comic will be the next one you fall in love with, Artist Alley contains some of the most important pieces in the convention puzzle. Artist Alley is one of the most important days of the year for both fans and the artists themselves.

“Last year I thought I was able to predict what I needed to make,” said Artist Jordan Kincaid. “I thought I would get more commissions this year, but this year I’ve actually been selling more prints, so that’s worked out in my favor.”

Artist Mackenzie Lemoine was also at the inaugral GalaxyCon Richmond in 2019. She does a few cons a year, but having last year under her belt, she felt more prepared for convention goers.

“I definitely feel more organized,” said Lemoine. “I feel a larger belt upon my belt in terms of preparation. I know more artists this time, so that’s a plus in terms of being able to bounce back and forth, and help each other out, but you also get more cross promotion. I feel like this year I’ve gotten more exposure just from being here and knowing more of the artists.”

MoonBoy creator Tammy Ung-Brown was also a member of the “convention number two” team. GalaxyCon is her second convention, and she was also excited to bring her knowledge from her first experience at Savannah Comic Con.

“It’s gone a lot better,” said Ung-Brown. “My first one I was kind of getting a feel for it, because I had gone to cons before, to take notes on what other people were doing as a guest. When I had my own table it was still kind of rough because I was trying to sell a lot of original stuff [as opposed to fanart]. Now, coming to GalaxyCon having some fanart has certainly helped. Most people are looking for something they’re familiar with.”

Artist Mariah Bryant chose GalaxyCon Richmond to get her feet wet as an artist, and while it was a little bit disappointing in regard to sales, it was still a positive experience from the career front.

“I was hoping I would sell my books more,” said Bryant. “But people aren’t familiar with them, so I’m constantly introducing people to them, but that’s why I’m here. I’m here to get people interested, spread the word a little bit, and also to network. Every time I’ve been to a convention as an attendee, it’s always to get business cards, make connections, see who’s in the area. And I’ve done that well, so that’s been beyond my expectations.”

Out of many artists that I met, artist Mana Stafford, who uses the tag Chibicabra, was probably the most seasoned in regard to conventions. They have been tabling since about 2010, and attending as a fan since about 2004.

“I really like meeting new people,” said Stafford. “I feel like every time I go to a con I make a new friend, and I like having those connections for traveling and stuff like that. I think as an artist, I really like doing art trades, which is a thing where artists will trade goods. Like, if someone likes a keychain or a print I have, and I like a shirt, we’ll trade. It’s just a really great community thing where the artists will get together, and we’ll get sushi or dinner afterwards. It’s really nice.”

Conventions are always fun. Being surrounded by colorful, fun paraphernalia, always having an interesting panel to go to, and getting the chance to be near your heroes? Of course, those things all rule. But those in the know know that Artist Alley and the Exhibition Hall are truly the heart of any convention. To be in a place where you can have one on one, honest conversations with your favorite comic and prop creators, and then turn the corner and be immediately welcomed by a sense of community from artists who may have just met you but want you to feel embraced in inclusion?

That certainly sounds like something we need more of in the world — especially right about now.

All photos by Ash Griffith

RVA Comics X-Change: Issue 39 — GalaxyCon 2020 Edition

|

Topics: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Happy Tuesday, comics fans! Welcome back to your favorite bi-weekly go-to for comics news and talk in Richmond. Not only that, we are your best go-to for in-depth coverage of the biggest annual comics and pop culture event in the River City – GalaxyCon Richmond. 

Conventions are beautiful events for many reasons; they bring people of all walks of life and interests together under the same roof, and also allow said people to experience the media that brings them joy in a new way. From artist alley, to vendors, to question and answer panels, to even shaking your favorite actor’s hand, conventions are full of magical events for so many people.

Naturally, this year’s GalaxyCon Richmond was no different. If last year’s line-up of celebrities and creators was excellent, then this year’s topped it as a solidified supreme. The unofficial theme of the year must have been “reunion,” as many franchise’s actors and creators joined forces once again, some having not each other in years.

From the central cast of The WB/CW’s Smallville to Disney’s Aladdin and even nerd king Kevin Smith’s View Askewniverse, many different casts were reunited on the floors of GalaxyCon. It was a mighty good time to be a fan of, well, almost anything.

Linda Larkin is best known to many children of the 90s as the speaking voice of Princess Jasmine in Disney’s Aladdin (1992). If her fans thought that they were the ones most excited to meet her and the cast, they have some competition. While she travels the convention circuit a few times a year, no one was more excited to be at this convention, and see the Aladdin cast reunion, than the princess of Agrabah herself.

“It’s really nice for [the cast to be back together],” said Larkin. “It’s just really nice to be able to meet people that love the movie, and all of us [to] be together when that happens. It’s really nice. ”

The best part for Larkin was certainly meeting the fans. Voice actors usually don’t record many parts of their script, if any at all, with other actors, so getting to see and meet other people who share the passion for her projects is her favorite. If you grew up with this film and let her know, she was just as excited to talk to you as well.

“It’s very moving to me,” said Larkin. “It’s very touching when I see another person across from me, and they’re telling me, and I can see in their eyes that this movie imprinted on them in a way that is lasting. I just feel really lucky to be a part of that for them.”

The event Larkin was most excited for was without a doubt the question and answer panel with the remaining members of the cast – Steve Weinger (Aladdin himself), Gilbert Gottfried (Iago), Jonathan Freeman (Jafar), and Frank Welker (Abu and the Cave of Wonders). Rarely are they ever together, and even then it is usually in smaller groups. It has been a long time since all of the remaining cast has been in the same room together.

The event was held on one of the main stages of the Greater Richmond Convention Center, which meant that the panel was held in a very large, almost stadium-sized room. The projection screens on either side of the stage were gratefully appreciated. Families, small children, and adults in their twenties and thirties filled the packed room, with barely a seat left to spare. With five minutes until the panel was set to begin, the long line to ask questions was already filling.

The cast answered a variety of questions, ranging from favorite recording memories to casting memories, and even their favorite lines from their individual characters. Two subjects, however, were the most popular in rotation – the shock of the film’s immediate and long-lasting popularity, and working with the Genie himself, Robin Williams. 

Most of the cast remembered Williams just the way we as fans assumed he was – kind, supportive, and hard-working. Weinger recalled Williams improvising parts of a scene with him, where Weinger’s Aladdin (in disguise as Prince Ali) is still trying to woo Princess Jasmine, while Williams’ Genie (in disguise as a bumblebee) advises him to just “beeeeee yourself.”

Of all the memories, the one that got many of the adults who are familiar with Gottfried’s long stand-up comedy career was when he recalled sharing the stage with Williams at a comedy show. When Gottfried was kicked further down on the lineup, Williams fought for him by insisting that he himself go early instead of Gottfried, because he had “friends who were here to see Gilbert.” 

As per usual at conventions, there were many cosplayers walking the exhibition halls. From Sailor Moon to Rey and Supreme Leader Kylo Ren from the Star Wars series, there was something for everyone. Among the booths and events were even tables and events specifically for the cosplay bunch.

A few tables were set up for cosplayers to quickly mend their costumes, or fix hair and makeup. Many cars were in attendance for fans to pose with, such as K.I.T.T. from Knight Rider, the Metallicar from Supernatural, and the Ecto-1 from Ghostbusters; plus, for the anime fans, Grace Klich’s Pikabug was hanging out as well.

Not only were there multiple costume contests, costumed pro wrestlers had a strong presence in the back of the exhibition hall as well. Who will win in a battle of Link versus StarLord? Only the headlock will tell. 

Pulling a strong audience amongst the question and answer panels was the reunion of some of the View Askewniverse’s favorites. Kevin Smith’s beloved franchise saw a new addition last year with the Jay and Silent Bob Reboot, starring Smith and Jason Mewes. As Smith recently finished up the Jay and Silent Bob Reboot Roadshow tour to promote the film, some of the cast, including Mewes, came back to Richmond to say hello.

Friday night’s View Askew Reunion Q&A panel was attended by Brian O’Halloran (Dante Hicks, amongst others), Shannon Elizabeth (Justice), and Mewes (Jay). Like the Aladdin cast, much of the cast of the films had not seen each other in person in a while. That was not true, however, of O’Halloran and Mewes. O’Halloran joked that he “sees this motherfucker all the time.”

O’Halloran and Mewes answered the majority of the questions, which ranged from favorite memories of the series (mostly centering on Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, the only film aside from Jay and Silent Bob Reboot in which all three of them appeared), to filming, and of course what it is like to work with Smith himself. O’Halloran fondly recalled that filming the View Askew films is much like “what [he] imagined summer camp is like.”

Of course, the biggest questions centered around Clerks 3. There are always some theories or mystery around Clerks 3 and whether or not it will happen; quite frankly, there have been for many years. Allegedly there was a script previously written for it, but a test audience found it to be entirely too dark, so it was scrapped. 

However, O’Halloran confirmed during the panel that the film is a go, and the usual cast of characters are just waiting on Smith to finally finish the script.

That does it for this week, comics fans! We hope you enjoyed part one of our coverage of GalaxyCon. Stay tuned for more, as we dig deep into Artist Alley, talk with some of your favorite comic creators, and present a very special interview with the men of Clerks themselves, Brian O’Halloran (Dante Hicks) and Jeff Anderson (Randal Graves), as they talk to us about the convention and the future of the series.

Until next time.

All Photos by Ash Griffith

RVA Comics X-Change: Issue 38 (GalaxyCon 2020 Preview Edition)

|

Topics: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Happiest of Tuesdays, comic fans! Welcome back to your Richmond Comics X-Change: GalaxyCon 2020 Preview Edition. This week we see the opening of GalaxyCon in Richmond, and for year two, we are going to get you prepared just in time to meet all of your favorite actors, comic book authors, and — for the auto nerds out there — even a few of your favorite sci-fi and fantasy vehicles that will be in attendance this year, as well.

February 28th marks not only the opening of GalaxyCon’s Richmond dates, but the second year of GalaxyCon making its appearance in the River City. GalaxyCon has been a gem for central Virginia for many reasons, but undeniably because of the guests. GalaxyCon has brought in a variety of people from various films, television series, comics, and even anime that fans in Virginia otherwise would not have a chance to encounter without traveling quite a distance.

As we inch ever closer to the big event, we at RVA Magazine have compiled a to-do list of comics we recommend you check out before this weekend — or if time is not your friend, in some cases a film or two — just to catch you up to speed. While this is by no means a complete list of all of the guests in attendance, it should be sufficient enough to have you ready to walk in to the convention center to take on anything. Let’s dive in.

Gotham Academy Vol. 1, by Becky Cloonan, Brenden Fletcher, and Karl Kerschl

Only in Gotham City can a prestigious prep school for the elite be so much more, and so much weirder than it looks. Gotham Academy is a monthly teen drama featuring occasional appearances by, naturally, Bruce Wayne (who is a benefactor of the school) and many secret ties to old Gotham. Cloonan will be in attendance at this weekend’s festivities and is best known as, among other things, the first woman to draw Batman for DC comics. 

Clerks. The Comic Books, by Kevin Smith, Jim Mahfood, Phil Hester, and Ande Parks

Smith didn’t just manage to catch lightning in a bottle when he created the iconic comedy Clerks, he dumped it all over the place in what resulted in the View Askewniverse franchise (named after his production company, View Askew, which he owns with longtime friend and business partner Scott Mosier). As the story goes, one of the ways Smith financed the production of the film was by selling off his comic book collection; in the end, it only makes sense that his magnum opus received the comics treatment as well. The series features the ongoing stories of the main characters from the film — Dante Hicks, Randal Graves, Jay, and Silent Bob (snootch). Brian O’Halloran, Jeff Anderson, and Jason Mewes (who played Dante, Randal, and Jay respectively) will all be in attendance this weekend along with Shannon Elizabeth (who was in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back as Justice, Jay’s love interest). 
Related Film Recommendation: Clerks (of course), and Jay and Silent Bob Reboot.

Green Lantern: Sleepers: Book 1, by Christopher Priest and Mike Baron

The Green Lantern seems to have it all. He’s a member of the Justice League, and he’s the heir to the greatest weapon in the universe: the iconic Green Lantern ring. The problem? It looks like his girlfriend is in love with a normie who is about to become the most powerful villain he has ever faced. Awkward. One of writer Christopher Priest’s claims to fame is as the first African American editor in mainstream comics. The heroes he has helped shape besides Green Lantern include Black Panther and Deathstroke. Priest will be in attendance this weekend.
Related Film Recommendation: Black Panther (Let’s forget that the Ryan Reynolds Green Lantern flick ever happened). 

Clue: Candlestick #1, by Dash Shaw

Shaw, who is a Richmond native and will be making an appearance at GalaxyCon this weekend, makes his own twists and impressions on the classic mystery story by reimagining it as a psychological drama. Spoiler: It’s always Colonel Mustard. Always. 

Emitown Vol. 1, by Emi Lenox

From the comedy to the tragedy, cartoonist Emi Lenox, who will be there this weekend, drops her diary in graphics to the world. Originally starting out as a web comic, Emitown was eventually picked up by Image Publishing for publication. 

The Walking Dead: Compendium One, by Robert Kirkman, Charlie Adlard, Cliff Rathburn, and Tony Moore

This iconic series needs no introduction. Originally introduced in 2003 and unexpectedly ending in July 2019, the beloved comic spawned a long-running series on AMC of the same name. GalaxyCon guest Michael Rooker played Merle Dixon (brother to Daryl) in the first three seasons of the series before meeting his demise. 
Related Television Recommendation: The Walking Dead, of course.

Invader Zim Vol. 1, by Jhonen Vasquez, Eric Trueheart, and Aaron Alexovich

The king of quirk and Hot Topic t-shirt sales, Invader Zim, is back in the last few years in the form of a comic series, though #50 will be the last before a quarterly series begins. Originally beginning as a cartoon on Nickelodeon in 2001, the show followed the misadventures of an alien named Zim looking for world domination with the help (or lack thereof) from his robot sidekick, Gir. The show was ended after two seasons, but revived in 2015 as a comic. Voice actors Richard Horvitz and Ricki Simmons (Zim and Gir respectively) will be there to fill the doom-shaped hole in your heart. 
Related Television Recommendation: Invader Zim

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 1: The Final Gauntlet, by Donny Cates and Geoff Shaw

Starlord is back, the world is on fire, and Thanos is finally dead…. Kind of? Fans of the popular films will be sure to enjoy digging deeper into the universe with our favorite 80s songbird, Peter Quill, and his friends. Sean Gunn is best known as Kraglin in the series, and will be in attendance this weekend. 
Related Film Recommendation: Avengers: Endgame

All-Star Superman, by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely

In this retelling of the classic Superman mythos, our favorite hero battles Bizarro and Zibarro Superman and tackles the revenge of Lex Luthor, amongst other tales. Superman is one of the most retold stories in comics history, with one of the best interpretations undeniably being the television series, Smallville. Starring Tom Welling and Michael Rosenbaum (who will both be in attendance) as Clark and Lex respectively, the series watches the man of steel grow as a teenager and all of the pitfalls that entails. 
Related Television Recommendation: Smallville

Disney Princess Comic Strips Collections, by Amy Mebberson

In a tale as old as time, even Disney princesses get the comics treatment. While the princesses have always had their own comics, Mebberson’s touch is quirky, fun, and dressed in adorable artwork. While Mebberson will not be in attendance this weekend, we can do you three better. Linda Larkin, Scott Weinger, and Gilbert Gottfried (Princess Jasmine, Aladdin, and Iago respectively) will all be there to answer your questions about a whole new world with you. 
Film Recommendation: Aladdin (2019) – While the Disney remakes are a hot topic, this new take on the classic tale starring Will Smith brings its own touch to the classic animated film that can’t be missed. 

That does it for us this week, comic fans. We leave you today with plenty of homework ahead of you, but much like us, we bet you’re counting down the minutes until the doors open at the Greater Richmond Convention Center on Friday at noon. We’ll hopefully see you this weekend at the convention! Otherwise, until next time, comic fans.

Top Photo: GalaxyCon 2019, by Ash Griffith

RVA Comics X-Change: Issue 37

|

Topics: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Happiest of Tuesdays, comic fans! Welcome back to your bi-weekly stop for comics and pop culture news in the River City. Every issue we talk to industry experts and Richmond creatives who love comics and dig deep to find their recommendations on the next big read, with a little bit of news so we eat our vegetables, too. 

This week in news we enjoy a mini Post-Oscars theme as some of the best in comics from 2019 went for the gold Sunday night. Plus, Sam Raimi makes his big return to Marvel-Land, and Scarlet Witch and Vision take us down sitcom memory lane in the trailer for WandaVision. However, before we dive in, we have some new recommendations to investigate.

Art by Gianna Meola, via portfolios.sva.edu/giannameola

This week our recommendations come from indie artist Gianna Meola. Based in Brooklyn, Meola has been reading comics since she was young, but didn’t start drawing them until college when she was an illustration major. Professionally she focuses on young adult and children’s comics, but personally enjoys reading anything horror-focused. It’s good to stay balanced.

She makes her own self-published zines and comics, but this year she will be releasing a book with Graphic Universe. Without a doubt that will be on all of our future recommendation lists once it drops.

All Over Coffee, by Paul Madonna

“All Over Coffee is a collection of Paul Madonna’s comics from the San Francisco Chronicle,” said Meola. “They’re great, they blend sketches and comics/observations in a beautiful way.”

Mexican Horror Story, by Simone Rein

“Simone’s work is funny, and touching and beautiful,” said Meola.

Gleem, by Freddy Carrasco

“Incredible and inspirational ink work– a really great and interesting read,” said Meola.  

Nobody Like You + Unsolved Cases, by Carmen Pizarro

“Carmen’s work has incredible personality and is ridiculously cool,” said Meola.

Tekkon Kinkreet, by Taiyo Matsumoto

“Everyone knows this one but it’s one of my all time favorite comics,” said Meola. “The pacing and style are amazing.” 

—

The Oscars have long been the Super Bowl of the film industry, and with a groundbreaking four wins that included Best Picture, Parasite made the ceremony a night to remember in its 92-year history as it became the first non-English language film to take home the highest honor.

While Parasite did its thing on stage, comic book fandoms celebrated in the corner as they quietly infiltrated the ceremony. Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker saw two nominations for best score, visual effects, and sound editing, and trailing behind was Avengers: Endgame best visual effects. 

However, Joker swept them both not only by receiving eleven nominations but bringing home awards for best musical score and best actor for Joaquin Phoenix, who gave a powerful acceptance speech. It’s almost like comic films hold merit and are seen as actual art forms after all. 

Oh, Spider fans, have you missed Sam Raimi? Niche horror fans in the Marvel universe are getting their forbidden wish in the form of Evil Dead/Army Of Darkness director Sam Raimi returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Raimi has been officially hired as the new director of the awaited Doctor Strange sequel, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. 

The Marvel universe hasn’t seen Raimi since his direction of the original Spider-Man film trilogy, then still owned by Sony Pictures, between 2002 and 2007. While the overall plot of the Strange sequel still has not been released, what is known so far is that it will be Marvel’s first dip into the water of horror. Who better to guide us on this new journey that the man who brought us Ash Williams of the legendary Evil Dead franchise?

Marvel also finally dropped the trailer for the heavily anticipated WandaVision series trailer during the Superbowl last week. While the 40-second trailer does not reveal much, it still gives us something to work with until a longer trailer is released.

Scarlet Witch Wanda Maximoff and android Avenger Vision, together at last, appear to be traveling through various eras of time, represented by homages to various sitcoms of times gone by.  There is a clear I Love Lucy reference in the beginning all the way down to what appears to be the typical 90s sitcom, which leaves the door open to a Full House bit. Between the shot of Wanda and Vision standing over two cradles (take note, Young Avengers fans), and the fact that Scarlet Witch actress Elizabeth Olsen is the sister of the famous Olsen Twins of Full House fame, it’s an easy door to walk through. There is even a reference to Wanda’s classic Scarlet Witch costume from the comics.

While a specific release date is still unknown, we do know that it will drop this year on Disney+’s streaming service. Personally, I’m just glad that Wanda just might finally get the happy ending she so deserves.

That wraps it up for us this week, comic fans. What kooky shenanigans and sitcoms should Wanda and Vision get into this year? 

Until next time.

RVA Comics X-Change: Issue 36

|

Topics: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Happiest of Wednesdays, comic fans! Welcome back to your favorite bi-weekly update on everyone that is up and coming and needs to be celebrated in the land of comics, in Richmond and beyond.

This week, not only did I bring you more news in the land of pop culture — there’s a comic-con museum afoot? — but we also bring a new comic illustrator to the column. 

This week we’re talking to Olivia Commini, who is an illustrator based in New Jersey, sequestered comfortably between New York City and Philadelphia. She works with digital collage and traditional media to create more otherworldly elements in her work. She got into comics the way a lot of us did, through a good old manga in her high school days, before studying illustration in college. 

What’s up next for Commini? Apparently a gritty true story.

“At the moment I’m working on a true story about a dangerous black bear [they saw] on a walk,” said Commini. “I’m also working on a small comic about my grandfather, which will come with a pin. Its about how we said goodbye.”

As far as recommendations go, Commini has four to keep us interested — especially if you’re a podcast fan.

The Adventure Zone, by Travis McElroy, Griffin McElroy, Justin McElroy, and Clint McElroy

“It’s exciting when you see things change as the fandom evolves,” said Commini. The series features the podcasting McElroy family (of My Brother, My Brother & Me and the Adventure Zone podcast) entering the realm of a real Dungeons and Dragons game, and following the way it evolves.

The Prince and the Dressmaker, by Jen Wang

“The art and story are so beautiful!” said Commini. Paris at the dawn of the modern age brings us a prince whose parents want him to find a wife. However, he’s a little more concerned that no one find out about his secret life. 

Trying Human, by Emy Bitner

Currently the subject of a Kickstarter campaign to bring the third volume of this webcomic into print, the series follows a secretary named Rose who is captured by aliens without emotions. Luckily she catches the attention of an alien named Hue who infiltrates her life. Shenanigans!

Dirty Diamonds: An All Girl Comic Anthology, by Various creators

This anthology series is also currently engaged in a Kickstarter campaign to bring its 10th and final issue to print. It features comics from various women artists and authors. Commini was actually featured in Book #9: Being. 

In comics news — apparently there is a Comic-Con Museum?

The Comic-Con Museum recently filled the role of curator with that of Gary Sassaman. Not only will his role facilitate the duties related to the museum itself but it will also make him the figurehead of Comic-Con International. Sassaman, however, has been with the organization for the last twenty years, so this should just be old hat to him.

“Adam [Smith, the previous curator]’s role was to recruit talent to get the museum off the ground and to establish a master plan to make the museum a reality,” Chief Communications and Strategy Officer for Comic-Con International David Glanzer told The San Diego Union-Tribune. “While we are currently focused on fundraising and implementing that plan, Gary will be able to focus on establishing exhibitions, programs, special events, family activities, educational experiences and so much more.”

Their focus now is mostly on fundraising, with no future programming planned as yet. Still — exciting!

Issue a quick moment of silence for that one friend who is a huge Howard the Duck fan. The series that was initially greenlit by streaming service Hulu has been canned before it ever got off the ground. 

The would-be animated series, which would have been directed and produced by View Askew King Kevin Smith was cut on January 22nd — via text, according to Smith.

“I got a text from [fellow executive producer] Dave Willis in the morning saying, ‘We got Tigra and Dazzler’d,’” Smith told Newsarama.com. “I called him and asked ‘Is that what I think that means?’ And Dave said he had just got the word that there will be no Howard the Duck show. The only explanation was ‘We have no plans for this character at this time’.”

Howard the Duck has always had an oddly supportive fanbase (apparently if you read the original comics, it makes sense), but this time that may not have been quite enough. While there is always the possibility of a return for the Gilbert Gottfried of comics, for now fans will have to make do with random cameos in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Once again Obi-Wan Kenobi continues to be the Star Wars character that can’t catch a break.

First Anakin joins the Sith instead of destroying them, now his origin series is on hold – again. Allegedly the scripts for the series were not up to current Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy’s standards, leading her to send them back to the writer’s room to be reworked. 

While at this time production is still scheduled for around summer, no official date has been announced, nor an estimate of the premiere date for the series itself. 

That does it for us this week, comic fans. Tell us what comics are you reading and looking forward to? Until next time!

Top image by Olivia Commini

RVA Comics X-Change: Issue 35

|

Topics: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Happy new year, comic fans! Welcome to a new year of new goals, new opportunities, and — most importantly — new comics.

This year we are bringing you more of the best in comic news, upcoming comics, and events. We will be covering GalaxyCon once again this year, where we will talk to upcoming illustrators and creators, and of course all of your celeb favorites. But before we get there, we are also going to be talking to voices in the scene we haven’t met before.

The first of those new voices to the column is co-creator of Atomic Robo and author of 8-Bit Theater Brian Clevinger. He has lived in Richmond for the last ten years along with Atomic Robo co-creator Scott Wegener, where they are about to embark on volume fourteen. If you couldn’t tell, he’s a big fan of robots (and history and British detective shows. So all of the good things, really).

Clevinger originally got his start back in 2001, while in college. He began 8-Bit Theater as a webcomic during a time when all you had to do to succeed at webcomics was just exist. Aside from that and Atomic Robo, he is known for freelance work he has done for Marvel, DC, and Dark Horse, amongst others.

While Atomic Robo is naturally one of his favorites, mostly due to the structural nature of the series, a small project for Marvel comes to mind as something he has particularly enjoyed so far in his career. 

“One of my Marvel gigs was with Scott comes to mind,” said Clevinger. “It was a silly little tie-in comic for Taco Bell. I think around the time of the second Iron Man movie. No one really cared about it, so we got to tell a goofy story about MODOK attacking Tony Stark with lawyer assassins.”

The biggest thing that he wishes people understood about the Richmond comics scene is simply enough that it is far larger than it gets credit for. It is a very indie scene, but large and proud.

“New York has a lot of momentum as a comics town because all the publishers were there when things got started up in the 20th century,” said Clevinger. “Portland is the other big comics town, thanks to publishers like Dark Horse and Oni setting up shop there. I think Richmond is easily positioned to be the next big comics town. The South needs one, dammit.”

Clevinger brings us a good teaser recommendation to bring us into the new year, and he makes it count. Manga classic Kamen Rider by Shotaro Ishinomori helps lead your comic recommendations into 2020.

Kamen Rider is a long-running manga franchise that crosses not only manga but television and films, with various iterations that have spanned decades, such as Kamen Rider, Kamen Rider Amazon, and Kamen Rider X, among an endless list of others. Originating in 1971, the series follows the story of a man who becomes a masked motorcycle riding superhero fighting monsters and evil organizations. The protagonist himself differentiates depending on the installment at hand.

News this week is a little light, but sees among other things the departure of Doctor Strange’s director and Marvel Studios wanting you to know they will not resurrect the dead.

Doctor Strange: In the Multiverse of Madness Director Scott Derickson has left his role as director, and claims the departure is amicable. He tweeted his announcement this week and claimed as well that he will remain in his other role as producer.

“Marvel and I have mutually agreed to part ways on Doctor Strange: In the Multiverse of Madness due to creative differences,” Derrickson said on his Twitter. “I am thankful for our collaboration and will remain on as [Executive Producer].”

Marvel also claims that it is amicable, and that this will not affect the predicted release date of May 2021, even though a replacement has not been found. 

When Star Wars icon Carrie Fisher died in 2016, one of the first questions asked was what would happen to General Leia Organa now that her actress was no longer with us. Lucasfilms was quick to respond with “CGI, obviously.” Marvel, however, will apparently not be taking that route in the future.

“We haven’t considered that,” said Marvel Studios Vice President and Avengers: Endgame Executive Producer Victoria Alonso to Yahoo! Movies.

James Dean, Warner Bros. publicity still for for the film Rebel Without a Cause, via Wikimedia

The question originally sprung up because of controversy surrounding the announcement that Finding Evan will be digitally CGIing iconic actor James Dean into the film posthumously. The idea even roused up Captain America himself, Chris Evans, who tweeted his thoughts.

“This is awful. Maybe we can get a computer to paint us a new Picasso,” Evans tweeted. “Or write a couple new John Lennon tunes. The complete lack of understanding here is shameful.”

That wraps it up for us this week, comic fans! What are you looking forward to in 2020?

Until next time.