Alex Ross
Straight for the art | R.I.P. Silver Agent, by Alex Ross
Silver Agent #2
Wildstorm’s The Bleed shares Alex Ross’s cover to the upcoming Astro City: Silver Agent #2. The two-issue series will “uncover more of the city’s secrets” as we learn about the Silver Agent’s final battle.
Shogun Warriors returning to comics?
Shogun Warriors
You’ll have to forgive me if my excitement and knowledge on this particular topic is wanting, as I was always more of a Micronauts guy myself … but at the bottom of a very long post on Ain’t It Cool News about a possible Shogun Warriors film is a small tidbit about a new Shogun Warriors comic book.
In regards to the work being done on the film, Harry Knowles says, “Alex Ross has been mentoring on the project and will be doing covers for a new SHOGUN WARRIORS series that Dynamite is involved in.”
Back in the late 1970s, Mattel licensed several giant robots from various Japanese anime shows to create the Shogun Warriors line of toys. From what I remember, they were two-foot-tall plastic robots that threw axes and launched other sorts of projectiles, no doubt an eye hazard for kids everywhere, as well as some smaller versions that were probably choking hazards (how any kid survived the 1970s and early 1980s is beyond me).
Marvel published a Shogun Warriors comic by writer Doug Moench and artist Herb Trimpe, which featured three of the robots. The book was set in the Marvel Universe, as the Fantastic Four and Doctor Demonicus appeared in issues.
Alex Ross donates Catwoman artwork to cat rescue organization
Catwoman by Alex Ross
Artist Alex Ross donated this incredible piece of Catwoman art to benefit the Saved Whiskers Rescue Organization, Inc., a non-profit cat and kitten rescue organization. You can find more details and place a bid over at the eBay listing; the auction ends this Friday.
SDCC ’09 | Don’t miss limited-edition promo prints for Rough Justice
Rough Justice: The DC Comics Sketches of Alex Ross
Designer, author and editor Chip Kidd writes that although he doesn’t have any official panels or signings, he will be at Comic-Con — specifically, at the Random House/Del Rey booth at noon on Thursday and Friday, and the Alex Ross Art booth at noon on Saturday.
If you’re lucky, you may snag one of the “extremely limited number” of promotional prints for Rough Justice: The DC Comics Sketches of Alex Ross, edited by Kidd. “Supplies are very limited and once they’re gone, they’re gone,” Kidd cautions.
The 256-page hardcover will be released in March 2010 by Pantheon.
Everyone’s A Critic: A roundup of comic-related reviews and thinkpieces
Earth X
• Having offered what may become the definitive critical take on Kingdom Come, Tim O’Neil looks at Alex Ross’ follow-up project, Earth X:
So, if Kingdom Come is about the reassertion of classically Juedo-Christian concepts of morality as filtered through fifty-and-sixty-year-old superhero comics, what’s the take-away for Earth X? Essentially, the story is about what happens when the superheroes begin to realize just how much their lives have been influenced by the interference of amoral space gods – down to the very ideas of morality and ethicality.
• I don’t mean to keep linking to The Hooded Utilitarian, but they have a new contributor, “Kinukitty,” who will be doing a regular column on yaoi and BL-themed manga. She kicks things off with a look at Aya Kanno’s Blank Slate:
The boy on the cover is pretty. So pretty. All the major characters are pretty. Cool, angsty-looking pretty boys with big guns. Did I mention that they’re pretty? They really are. I’m not sure who’s who all the time. I’m not always sure what’s happening. Don’t misunderstand – we’re not talking about confusion that rips space and time. We’re talking about a series of brow-furrowing, minor WTF moments that end with a quiet snort of “Oh, I don’t care anyway.”
• While you’re there I also recommend checking out Tom Crippen’s essay on Rorschach.
• Speaking of manga, David Welsh examines Mari Okazaki’s Suppli at the Comics Reporter. Also at CR, Bart Beaty praises New Wanted by Laurent Cilluffo.
• Rob Clough looks at the work of emerging artist Juliacks: “It can be a bit daunting to engage these sorts of comics; they demand that you accept them on their own terms or not at all. They can be difficult to begin and adjust to as a reader. Of course, once a reader has locked into this style, the stories become impossible to put down.”
Talking Comics with Tim: Todd Klein
Comic Book Dreams Print
Todd Klein is a letterer with a level of talent, success and acclaim that is only exceeded by his modesty. That’s the perspective I took away from an email interview I recently conducted with him. I’m not even going to bother offering some concise bio blurb on the man–he has such a rich history, it’s just best that you go here to read up on him. On with the fun.
Tim O’Shea: As of 2006, you noted the following metrics: “From beginning freelance work in 1977 through the end of 2006 I’ve lettered over 48,000 pages of comics, as well as over 5,400 covers and designed over 820 logos.” Have you tried to keep track of your pace since 2006?
Todd Klein: In 2007 I added 2013 pages, no covers and 8 logos. In 2008 I added 2102 pages, 12 covers and 10 logos. That kind of information, for those who want it, is available on my website’s Klein Lettering Archives pages.
O’Shea: In the case of long-term collaborators, like Neil Gaiman and Alan Moore, in what ways do they utilize your unique skills to elevate their narrative?
Klein: Kind of a hard question for me, asking them would probably give a more accurate answer. From my end, I can say they know my work well and what I can do, know that I don’t shy away from a challenge, so I think they pretty much trust that I will give them something that works no matter what they ask for.