Joining the Soleil

Cirque Du Soleil is my favorite Canadian export. With 15 shows around the world, 1000 artists, 5000+ employees, over 90 million spectators in 200 cities and with 50 nationalities making up the company the Montreal-based circus of magic has a lot going for it. This weekend at the Academy Awards they even had their bit on going to the movies.

Down in front. I can't see the fire-breather.

Northern Exposure Thursday #2

Straight from the photo album are this weeks shots from across Canada. Enjoy!

This week's theme: graffiti and wall murals.

Montreal, Quebec

Pick of the Week 22/2/2012

Call this week for what it is: Halloween in February. You'll see why.

Playing catch-up, it's a combo-week of superhero, sci-fi, and horror.

Making Comic Decor

I won't ever buy a piece of original comic art. It's not because I'm not interested, I just can't fit it into my budget (and am resigned to the fact that I never will). Still, I love art and I love to display it proudly, sharing books, laying them all over the place -- okay that last one is a messiness thing. Some people have made a life out of collecting comic art and while I'm not part of this "collector" demographic, I still respect comics as an art form.

I also hate empty walls.

Comics. You're doing it right.

A New Neverland

Wednesdays are typically busy, and I'm thankful for that.

First, I would like to thank Kurtis Wiebe and Tyler Jenkins for making the time to visit Alpha Comics in Calgary last night for their signing of their new comic Peter Panzerfaust. The event was marked by relentless sales (lines are always a good sign), good company, and lots of laughs.

Shut up and take my money!

10 Comic-Book Romances You Might Have Missed (And Really Shouldn't)

You've read Peter and Mary-Jane kiss a thousand times. Lois and Clark have gotten together in a variety of issues. Comics are no strangers to romance -- Jack Kirby and Joe Simonson cut their teeth on Young Romance back in 1947. But what about OTHER couples? Ones not as widespread as the mainstream superhero?

Gabe IS pretty dreamy...

The following is a look at some of the healthiest and unhealthiest comic books romances worth reading. This is not a ranking of top 10's, but a reminder of what you might be missing (and really shouldn't) Be warned, SPOILERS AHEAD. 

The Lost Boys

"To die would be an awfully big adventure".

Kurtis Wiebe and Tyler Jenkins promise the same high-stakes action with their upcoming series Peter Panzerfaust, an homage to the classic Peter Pan by James M. Barrie. Retelling the Lost Boys as French orphans during World War II, Pan appears to lead the boys away from the encroaching Nazi occupation and reform the group into a resistance force. Sounds FANTASTIC, right? Well you can tell them yourself.

If he was facing the other way it'd be an ENTIRELY different message.

The creative duo will be attending Calgary's ALPHA COMICS for a signing this Wednesday, February 15th, 2012. No doubt if you ask nicely they'll be sure to sign your book and answer any questions you might have about writing, drawing, and pixie dust.

Comic book groupies are totally different from -- no, nope, that's the same.

The signing got me thinking that last year during the New52 relaunch by DC, there was an interview over at iFanboy.com where they spoke with an editor from Vertigo who promised that 2012 would be the year where they'd be doing some of the freshest ideas the industry has seen in a long while.

If that's the case, Image Comics is beating them out of the gate two months in.

Peter Panzerfaust is the latest in a series of "too cool to miss" releases for 2012. FATALE has been a runaway hit for Brubaker and Phillips (long-time collaborators who at this point are just printing money) and with new series Near Death, Thief of Thieves, and the upcoming juggernaut SAGA by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples, Wiebe and Jenkins are in good company -- and rightly so. They're bringing their A-game.

Hopefully Panzerfaust will peel away readers from Vertigo's FABLES who enjoy old-tales-made-real, and I can only hope for the best for the book and team involved. I recommend that everyone give it a try.

I'm calling it now, though. If the famous crocodile is changed into a Russian T-34 tank with a loose rivet that chases Hook, I think I'll be able to die happy.

Tick-Tock, Comrade.

Check it out this Wednesday.

Teeth Come Out

In the last two weeks the teeth have come out.

You know the ones. Those familiar pearly-whites, the ones that can be flashed through a smile, hiding greed or pity. The ones gritted with rage and want. Even the ones that are a threat of things to come, like sharks in the water.

Come to think of it, if I ever see Alan Moore smiling, I should probably run.

Lawsuits abound and fans frustrated, I find myself willingly putting on blinders as I try to focus on the roots of creativity, but at current there's a fair amount of ill-will circling my favorite industry. Personally, I look forward to Before Watchmen. DC has assembled a talented pool of writers and artists for the prequel series and even if they're terrible (some might be, some won't) it certainly won't affect my enjoyment of the original material. What Moore and Gibbons made was bulletproof in my mind. 

But these lawsuits, oh man these lawsuits.

Replacing the show "Comic Book Men" with more of this.

Northern Exposure Thursdays

"Go outside."

My parents said that a lot to me growing up. In the summer of 2010 I funded and organized a cross-country study of Canadian culture and theatre stretching coast-to-coast. In 2 months I visited 30 Canadian destinations, saw 5 world-class museums, enjoyed 26 theatrical performances, took 2400 photos, and laid my head to rest in countless hostels (and one memorable couch-crashing).

Why? Because of a combination of things. The first reason, my parent's committal to kicking me outside, and the second, my quirky sense of Canadian guilt. "How can I be Canadian without seeing the country end to end?" -- a question by my 7 year old self. "Far and wide" is in the anthem, for God's sake. To encourage others to take the same trip (if they're able, they should and if they're not, they still should) here are some snapshots from the trip.

Where we hear things get done here. We're not certain.
(Ottawa, Ontario)

Comic Book Binding

Comic boxes are ugly. Let's be clear. They have the tendency to grow until they're hunting in packs and you're forced to ally with your neighbours to take them down with spears and lawn tools.

A danger waiting to strike.

Pick of the Week 8/2/2012

Old things made new and new kids on the block.

The phone-calls are coming from... INSIDE THE BOOK!

Call for Artists

It's a nail-biting experiencing asking around for people who are good with their hands. Thankfully, I enjoy the rush of finding new talent to collaborate with.

She's good with her hands..

This is a general CALL FOR ARTISTS intended for people who are looking to broaden their profile work and collaborate on something they can use to further their career/portfolio. The call is for an artist(s) looking to draw for a graphic novel and follow through with the publishing of said work. For more information on these projects please click the "CURRENT PROJECTS" tab at the top of the page. The world's a scary place, but let's make something great, shall we?

Please be professional and send an email HERE with the subject "Call for Submissions" if interested. Samples of your work would be appreciated pretty much mandatory.

EDIT: New samples will be uploaded to the "CURRENT PROJECTS" page this evening (7/2/2012).

Crime DOES Pay

As a reminder, I will be attending at St. Mary's on Wednesday, February 15th as guest speaker talking about the history, censorship, and influence of the Crime genre in comics.

Think about this next time she tells you "I'm fine"

The class is currently full but I will be posting my notes from the lecture here on the blog the following day. That way if you missed it or have any follow-up questions after, they'll be here for the world to see. As always, I'm eager to talk about anything regarding Crime (to not would be one) so feel free to drop me an email regarding any questions.

Image (c) Criminal: Last of the Innocent (Brubaker / Phillips) - Go buy it [here]