Underworld: Rise of the Lycans #1 (of 2 I think)

Kevin Grevioux website

Amazon link to buy Underworld Widescreen Special Edition on DVD

Underworld co-creator and co-star Kevin Grevioux writes the latest installment in the series.

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Also this week:

Buffy TVS: Wolves at the Gate TP. Art by Georges Jeanty.

Push #1 (of 6). A movie tie-in, co-written by Marc Bernardin.

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Also notable:

Batman: Cacaphony #1 (of 3). Written by Kevin Smith. It’s only three issues; maybe he’ll be able to complete that much at least…

JSA: Kingdom Come Special - Superman. They’re really milking KC for all it’s worth, aren’t they?

Sir Apropos of Nothing #1 (of 5). Peter David’s adaptation of his best-selling novel.

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Another college paper gets uptight about Keith Knight’s Obama toon.

Beyonce as Wonder Woman???

Georges Jeanty interview.

Is the world ready for a black James Bond?

Play the latest video game sensation - Super Obama World!

Yes, the same guy who’s also attached to Frank Miller’s Ronin.

Plus: A first look at Denzel and the Hughes Brothers’ The Book of Eli.

“It’s been a long, sometimes daunting road to Obama’s presidential victory. Artistic mistakes were made along the way, and occasionally, some cartoonists did not display the necessary vision. But those mistakes are in the past — it’s a brand new day, and a time for a fresh aesthetic beginning.

“So with that in mind, consider this a call to arms, if not drawing hands. Comic Riffs beseeches the nation’s cartoonists with one simple request — a call to excellence, if you will: Draw an even better Obama.”

a gallery of Obama cartoons

Also: Here’s a look at some classic black cartoons from the Chicago Defender.

In 2004, at SPX, I met a pair of brothers named Dan and Steven Goldman. They had with them a graphic novel that was getting quite a bit of buzz from the comics cognoscenti called Everyman: Be The People. It was the story of the election of a black president and it would have been the first in a series of graphic novels. Unfortunately, despite a great deal of critical praise, including from me (it was in my Top 10 for that year), it didn’t sell in big numbers and they had to stop with the one. It’s still very much worth tracking down, however, since it reflects greatly on Barack Obama and his ascension to the presidency.

Dan and Steven went on to other things, together and seperately. Dan, in particular, hit it big with the release of another politically-themed GN, Shooting War (drawn by him and written by Anthony Lappe).

Now Dan’s illustrating another political comic: 08: A Graphic Diary of the Campaign Trail. He just posted the cover on his blog, and if this is anything like his other work, I imagine it’ll be quite remarkable. Here’s an interview where he talks about 08 and Shooting War.

Also: Is Obama the first Trekkie president?

Press release:

Whatever happened to Paris Cullins? Best known for visually creating Blue Devil and penciling Blue Beetle, Mr. Cullins was a fixture in the 80’s DC Universe contributing on everything from the Forever People to Animal Man. In the 90’s he branched out to Marvel penciling Clive Barker’s Hyperkind, ultimately moving onto Penthouse Comix as both a penciller and a behind the scenes editor and recruiter.

Well Paris Cullins is back! And he’s re-assembled his Philadelphia based Maximum Overtime Studios crew for a new magazine creation entitled Gritz n Gravy. What is Gritz n Gravy magazine? Simply put: It’s illustrated urban fantasy for the mature reader. It’s pop art in a hip hop culture. It’s where Heavy Metal meets Vibe magazine, where Jet meets Shonen Jump. Of course it’s comics. Comics which outreach to a demographic that isn’t always widely represented. But it’s more than that, its science-fiction and fantasy prose from new talent and established pros alike. Most importantly, its interviews and introductions to persons of interest you’d probably otherwise never know about. Folks like Terrence Walker, unsung one man animation dynamo or M. Asli Dukan a progressive new film maker. Combined with in-depth insight to more established luminaries like Dwayne McDuffie [Justice League Unlimited producer and current writer of Justice League of America], L. A. Banks [ author of The Vampire Huntress Legend Series ] and Eric Battle [ current penciller on Wild Cards by the Dabel Bros.].

Who are Maximum Overtime Studios assisting Mr. Cullins in this endeavor? First up, Mike Leeke, best known for penciling Bill Willingham’s Elementals for Comico and Valiant’s H. A. R. D. Core, presents a new strip entitled The Cadre. There’s Sky Owens, indy vet best known for his creation Knightmare and Spandex Tights with writer Brian Glass, introduces Kemette: Sword of the Pharaohs. Christopher Taylor does double duty as the magazine’s graphic designer and contributes the series Mark Nemesis: The Avatar. Paris Cullins rolls out his new creation Marcus Arena as well. Inking both Cadre and Arena is the prolific Aaron Beatty. Rounding out the artistic crew is pin-up stylist Clive Arno. New prose is provided by executive editor and author Isreba Aiken and contributing writer Koran Curtis. Herb Riley is our webmaster extraordinaire and Derrick Richardson is our marketing and sales director.

Where can you get the Gritz n Gravy magazine? Directly from the website of course, gritzngravy.com! The magazine is 156 pages, full color, $9.95 and bi-monthly debuting in late December 2008. The new print run can be pre-ordered now! We haven’t forgotten RETAILERS either! We’re offering the book at half price [$4.98] specifically for retailers.

Contact Christopher Taylor: alphacmt@hotmail.com

Need to contact Paris Cullins for an interview? pariscullins@hotmail.com

Interested in advertising in the magazine or on the website? Contact Derrick Richardson: derrick@gritzngravy.co

The entire MAXIMUM OVERTIME CREW THANK YOU for helping us get the word out!!!!

Ladies and gentlemen… returning to the role that endeared him to a generation of fanboys for the first time in a quarter-century… I give you…

Mr. Billy Dee Williams!

In both comics and graphic novel form.

Also: A comics precedent for Barack Obama.

Adam: Legend of the Blue Marvel #1 (of 4)

3-page preview (w/o dialogue)

interview w/Kevin Grevioux (and artist Mat Broome) about Adam

New Warriors writer Kevin Grevioux’ new mini about a “forgotten” Marvel hero making a comeback.

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Also this week:

Final Crisis: Resist. Featuring Mr. Terrific and Checkmate.

Question: Epitath For a Hero TP. Art by Cowan.

Vixen: Return of the Lion #2 (of 5)

Marvel Illustrated: Kidnapped #1 (of 5). Art by Mario Gully.

High Rollers #4 (of 4). Written by Gary Phillips.

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Also notable:

Sgt. Rock: The Lost Batallion #1 (of 6). Story and art by Billy Tucci.

Ultimatum #1 (of 5). Some big Ultimate Marvel event.

A Tribute to Michael Turner GN. The late comics artist is remembered in this volume.

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More on the Terrence Howard/Iron Man 2 debacle, courtesy of Entertainment Weekly.

I’m not sure how I feel about the news that SLJ will appear in a remake of the mega-cheesy 80’s kung-fu fantasy flick The Last Dragon.

SLJ and director Frank Miller talk about The Spirit.

Madagascar 2 opens this Friday. Chris Rock, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Cedric the Entertainer all do voice work in it. (The link to the Cedric interview apparently isn’t working.)

Here’s a piece about an anti-gang comic book.

BOOK OF THE MONTH

Justice League of America #27 (DC). For better or for worse, the Milestone Universe heroes “debut” for the “first” time in the DCU with the appearances of Icon and Hardware. Written by Milestone co-founder Dwayne McDuffie.

Also notable:

Adam: Legend of the Blue Marvel #1 (of 4). A new “forgotten” Marvel hero from the past who comes out of retirement. Written by Kevin Grevioux.

Obama: The Comic Book. Antarctic Press’ comics biography of this year’s Democratic presidential nominee (not to be confused with the IDW biography). This may already be available now.

Advance Knight GN. A graphic novel set during the early days of hip hop, written by Wu-Tang Clan’s GZA.

Mr. T GN. A new graphic novel starring the 80s TV icon.

Cleburne GN. An untold tale of the Civil War: a Confederate general who enlisted black slaves for the war for the promise of freedom.

The list:

Buffy TVS #20. Pencils by Georges Jeanty.

Final Crisis: Revelations #4 (of 5)

Vixen: Return of the Lion #2 (of 5)

Tangent: Superman’s Reign #9 (of 12)

Supergirl #35. Pencils by Jamal Igle.

The Brave and the Bold #19. Pencils by Doug Braithwaite.

Green Arrow/Black Canary #19. Guest-starring Connor Hawke.

Infinity Inc.: The Bogeyman TP

Justice League of America: Sanctuary HC. Co-written by McDuffie.

Teen Titans Spotlight: Raven TP. Pencils by Damion Scott.

WildCATs #5. Pencils by Pete Woods.

Stormwatch PHD #16

Push #1-2 (of 6). A prequel to an upcoming film, co-written by Marc Bernardin.

Unknown Soldier #2

Spawn #186

Adventures of Spawn #2. A second collection of the Spawn webcomic, with art by Khary Randolph.

Perhapanauts: Triangle TP

Marvel Illustrated: Kidnapped! #1 (of 5). Pencilled by Mario Gully.

Immortal Iron Fist #20. Pencils by Travel Foreman.

Iron Man: Director of SHIELD #35. Guest-starring War Machine.

New Warriors #18, Sista Samurai #0, Underworld: Rise of the Lycans #2, Phantom Annual #2. The second is a new comic about a supermodel turned samurai warrior; all written or co-written by Grevioux.

Squadron Supreme 2 #5

Thor #12. Pencils by Olivier Coipel.

X-Factor #37. Pencils by Larry Stroman.

X-Men: Worlds Apart #2 (of 4)

Gold Digger #101, GD: Peebo Tales Special #4, GD Sourcebook #22, GD Sourcebook Pocket Manga V1 TP. By Fred Perry.

The Blackbeard Leacy #0

Negation: Event Horizon TP. Offered again.

GRRM’s Wild Cards: The Hard Call HC. Penciled by Eric Battle.

Wet Moon V4 TP

King of Nekropolis GN. Crime noir mixed with horror in this graphic novel.

Modern Masters: Kyle Baker SC

Return to Wonderland HC, Beyond Wonderland #4. Written by Raven Gregory. Issues #0-1 of the latter are also being offered again.