PUNKS THE COMIC IN PREVIEWS, BREAKS NEW RECORDS OF AWESOMENESS.

April 26th, 2007 - Los Angeles, CA -- Independent sensation PUNKS THE COMIC makes its debut in the May issue of Previews, on stands today. This beloved before it's existence book hits stands after a year of perfecting. It turns out that this was time well spent, as the book has been awarded the AWESOME PRIZE FOR AWESOMNESS from the purely fictional AWESOME SOCIETY OF STUTTGART. The A.S.S. (NO LAUGHING! THIS IS SERIOUS) chariman, Freidrich Von Rafaelson said in a funny fake German accent, "Ve are VERY EXCITED about ze release of Punks. It is purely awesome." At the time of press, his accent sounded more Belgian than German.

Due to the staggeringly overwhelming coolness of the book, it has been listed in Diamond Previews FOUR times. You will find it under Digital Webbing on Page 294, with a black and white ad (due to restraints on the amount of free kickassitude allowed in Previews), as a part of the Diamond Staff Picks (which contrary to popular belief does not involve open sores), and as a part of the Indie Spotlight (take that Blankets!). It has also been awarded a certified cool, which, while not an actual 'prize,' in the parlance of press release etiquette, Josh and Kody will pretend it is.

"It's an honor, and a privilege, to be certified cool," Kody Chamberlain answered from his Lousiana based sanitarium, "Thus far, the things I've been certified in have mostly been on the... uh... tantric side of things." He was then fed his pills and promptly returned to his 'soft and cushy day room' which those of us not flinging poo and touching ourselves in public would recognize as a padded cell.

If that is not enough, breaking laws in at least 58 of the 50 states (You probably still haven't heard of Kiwupitatatas, it's just north of New Mexico), PUNKS will be given out Free as a part of Free Comic Book Day on May 5th. Featured prominently in the Digital Webbing Free Comic Book Day Jam 2007. This exclusive three page story will not be featured anywhere else (until someone asks for content, and we're running out of time, so we offer them the reprint anyways), and is a MUST GET!

Both Josh and Kody will be making appearances on Free Comic Book Day to promote Punks. Chamberlain (the long haired artist one) will be a guest at CAPE in Dallas, TX, and Fialkov (the hairy writer one) will be at The Comic Bug in Manhattan Beach, CA. Come by to have whatever portion of your body you reserve for being signed, signed.

The Punks the Comic Summer Special 2007 #1 is 48 pages, featuring a huge amount of story, plus interviews with Independent Comic Superstar Rick Remender and Punk Art Master Art Chantry. All of that in a digest sized, squared bound, full color package will cost you just $4.99.

The Diamond Order Info is MAY07 3402 PUNKS THE SUMMER COMICS SP (MR) SRP: $4.99

For more information, please visit the newly launched www.PunksTheComic.com for previews, news, contests, and poorly told dick and fart jokes.

If you'd like to support the book by pre-ordering (which we highly encourage), please print this order form and drop it off at your local comic book shop.

Josh and Kody are available for follow up questions, interviews, shoe fittings, and embarassing noises.

PUNKS get Diamond Staff Pick!

Just got word that Punks: The Summer Comic Special got a Diamond Staff Pick! One of the best lines in the article is:

I’m not sure if I can quite explain to you what I just read, but what I can tell you is that is looked really freakin’ cool.

Look for Punks: The Summer Comic Special in May's Diamond Previews under the DIGITAL WEBBING section. Previews hits comics shops on April 25th.

Reminder: Elk's Run Release Party at Meltdown in Hollywood This Wednesday!

With this week's release of Elk's Run in Comic Stores, we're going to be having a Book Release Party at Meltdown Comics in Hollywood, CA. There will be free booze, West Virginia themed food (prepared by yours truly), a DJ, and all that noise. There will also be an exclusive mini-comic of Three Rivers, and Free Original Sketches by Noel for the first 25 people to pick up a copy of the book that evening.

Here's the info from the good folks at Meltdown:

How wonderful it is that Elk's Run is finally complete. I can't imagine the frustrations experienced by the creative team behind the book as they neared completion of the series only to see it slip away, but I can certainly guess at the elation they felt seeing the tale brought to its intended finish.

It's hard to bring you in on the story without ruining the pervasive creepiness that begins to winnow your vision until the authors draw a tunnel of focus (quite literally in the first chapter) that opens new horrors. Elk's Run is a quietly horrific tale about family and community, about defining one's place in the world and how the world gets to have a say on your place in it. The exploration of this little town and how the people in it have come to isolate themselves is one of the more remarkable comics published in recent years.

It is unthinkable that this may never have reached a conclusion in print. A celebration is in order! The complete Elk's Run release party is Wednesday, April 4 at 7:00 p.m. at Meltdown, presented by Villard Books and ComicBookResources.com. Let me say the magic words you've been waiting for: alcohol will be served.

ELK'S RUN RELEASE PARTY
MELTDOWN COMICS
WED, APRIL 4 7:00 PM
7522 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90046
www.meltcomics.com
www.myspace.com/meltdowncomics

I hope all of you locals can attend, and please, help to spread the word.

See you Wednesday night,

j.

P.S. Venison Jerky will also be served.

The Shield: April 3 on FX

I don't get much TV time lately, but The Shield is the one show that draws me in every week. Fantastic characters, acting, directing, camera work, etc. Very inspirational stuff, and I'm glad to see it popping up again tomorrow night.

Hello. My Name is Jason. Now go to work.

Kody set me up with this site about two months ago. Quick bio: I edit Elk's Run and the upcoming Postcards: True Stories That Never Happened. They're both coming from Villard Books. Ok, done? Good. Because now I need to put you to work...

Today starts the big Postcards Push. Postcards: True Stories That Never Happened is currently in Previews (Villard Books, Order # APR074039) and I was never one to ignore the direct market. So, I need to get people buzzing around this book, and this email will tell you how you can help.

First, Postcards is a collection of 16 stories inspired by used, antique postcards I’ve collected over the years. It features work by some of the top talents in comics today, including stories from Harvey Pekar and Matt Kindt, Phil Hester, Tom Beland, Stuart Moore and Michael Gaydos, and Rick Spears and Rob G. You can get a complete list of stories, creators, and bios at the official website. Just click on “Stories & Creators.”

Ok, promotion...

I put a handy-dandy “Promote” page on the website. On that page you’ll find wallpapers to spruce up your desktop, banners for your website, badges that make great avatars, and 8 different handouts (for significant others, mothers, comic shops, bookstores, librarians, teachers, congress(wo)men, and complete strangers) that you can print, clip, and distribute as you see fit.

Later tonight or tomorrow I will be sending out a press release that’ll launch a very fun contest where the winner will receive an original page from Stuart Moore (Earthlight, Detective Comics, New Avengers/Transformers) and Michael Gaydos’ (Snakewoman, Alias, The Pulse) story, “Tic-Tac-Bang-Bang.” The details of the contest can be read here. Essentially, entrants are asked to read a 98-year-old used postcard and tell me the story they see behind it. The winner will be announced April 20th and the artwork will be professionally framed.

You can send someone an e-Postcard here. It’s fun, it’s easy, and there’s a picture of a mule saying, “Hello Pal.” What more could you want?

Starting April 2nd, there will be a series of five conversations posted on blog@newsarama. These came out really well; the creators involved with Postcards have given great insight into their process and motivations. Please check them out. If you like them, link to them. We will be posting conversations with five different creators at CBR either the following week or the week after.

If you have any local newspapers that may be interested in reviewing or featuring Postcards, or doing interviews with me or any of the creators, please let me know.

And, finally, Postcards is on MySpace. So friend us up, subscribe to the blog, leave some comments – whatever you like to do when you’re on MySpace.

That’s it for now. Any questions, comments, concerns, interview requests, or requests for review copies can be sent my way. Hate mail, death threats, or lawsuits can be addressed to James W. Powell, my right-hand man.

Now get to work.

Jason Rodriguez
http://www.postcardsanthology.com

Tony @ Fanboy Radio...

So yesterday I was a guest on U.S Phenom radio show Fanboy Radio. It was a pre-recorded show, which meant that I was woken up at some ungodly time in the evening/morning to be my usual erudite and witty self. I don't think they were expecting incoherent mumbling...

Anyway, the podcast of yesterday's show is now available HERE - feel free to download and worship me mercilessly. On it I discuss comedy and the BBC, branding, Markosia, how to pitch me at a convention, Hope Falls, Starship Troopers and Midnight Kiss. I also (once more) talk about how I got into comics...

Also, following the announcement in the show - I've already had a couple of emails relating to this - yes, Dodge & Twist has a publisher and a creative team - It's AiT/PlanetLar, it's looking at late 2007/early 2008, drawn by 2000ad star Paul Peart and will be about 144 odd pages.

With The Gloom in October and Hope Falls in November, it's going to be an interesting New Year...

Leinil Yu is killing!

Leinil Yu is doing fantastic work on Fallen Son: Wolverine. He's really becoming one of my favorite comic artists lately. Anyone that knows me knows that I'm not a hardcore superhero fan, but with Michael Lark doing Daredevil and Leinel Yu doing Wolverine, it looks like my superhero pull list is starting to thicken up.

Here's the blurb from Newsarama:
"CIVIL WAR: FALLEN SON: THE DEATH OF CAPTAIN AMERICA - WOLVERINE
Written by JEPH LOEB
Penciled LEINIL YU
Cover by MICHAEL TURNER
How will Wolverine react to the death of one the most beloved characters in the Marvel Universe? He ain't buyin' in! Join Logan as he tries to track down the truth and he's not going to be happy when he does! The secret story that will transverse the post Civil War landscape – and stars Marvel’s most popular characters – begins here! How do people with amazing powers face a force that no one can fight? Who has fallen, and is more violence coming? With Wolverine on the scene, is there any question? Be there as superstar Jeph Loeb teams with the industry’s top artists on a story that will have everyone talking! Loeb! Leinil! Logan!

Kody's rundown

First off, the passing of Drew Hayes (Poison Elves) - an online friend from the old Wizard section on AOL, Drew helped me a lot via internet chats when I was just starting to send out comic samples back in the early 90's. He'll be missed.

Inspiration: Bill Sienkiewicz on Fanboy Radio, Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser - finally, the Drink and Draw Social Club hard cover book, The ModBook - got to play with one of these at WizardWorld LA 2007, Pandora.com - essential tunes for hanging out at the drawing table, Harry Potter comic buzz,

Reading: Brubaker and Lark on Daredevil, Brubaker and Phillips on Criminal, Azzarello and Rizzo 100 Bullets trades.

More coming soon.

Read Impaler # 1 -- For Free

Newsarama has posted Impaler # 1 online. If you haven't read it yet, here's your chance!

Issues 1 -3 are on sale now:
Impaler # 1: Diamond order code: AUG06 1734
Impaler # 2: Diamond order code: SEP06 1820
Impaler # 3: Diamond order code:OCT06 1875

And this is what the critics are saying about Impaler:

“The story is masterfully plotted to crescendo in each issue, teasing and tempting the reader to come back for more…this is a great read.”–Ain’t It Cool News

“Impaler deftly restores the bloodsuckers—and their figurehead, Vlad Dracula—to absolutely epic creatures-of-the-night. Buy this book, or I’ll cancel your Rue Morgue subscription!”–Rue Morgue Magazine

“Impaler begins a new ongoing at Image that, one hopes, can do for vampires what The Walk*ing Dead did for zombies.”–Cinescape, Rating: A

“Dark, foreboding and a great read.”–IGN Comics, Rating: Must Read

“Writer William Harms gives us what might be the freshest reinterpretation of the vampire mythos in years…the impending bloodfest over the coming issues promises to be spectacular.”–Metro (Toronto), Rating: 4 Stars (out of 4)

ND Comics Magazine launching in July 2007

Looks like a new Indy (ND, get it?) comic magazine is set to launch this summer. I love magazines, and I probably buy way more than I should. But when it comes to comics the selection is fairly thin. From what I've seen from ND Comics Magazine, it looks like it may fill the gap between Wizard and The Comics Journal. They're currently doing a subscription drive to generate a little buzz and revenue, and I'll be chipping in for a few issues to give it a test drive. Here's the official blurb from the ND Comics Magazine website: "ND Comics Magazine is dedicated to helping the independent comic creator and/or small press publisher find your audience. Our dedication to our readers is to provide up to date coverage of your favorite indie comics as well as introduce you to new indie books. ND is the best value for affordable print advertising as our readers are indie comics fans who are looking for info about indie comics."

WizardWorld LA is only a week away!

WizardWorld Los Angeles is only a week away, so if you're planning to make it to the con please drop by Artists Alley table # 2202!

I'll be there all weekend showing new stuff and maybe a few things to sell. Hope to see you there.

PUNKS: The free preview!

DIGITAL WEBBING JAM 2007—FCBD EDITION
by Various
Showcasing the full line of Digital Webbing comics with brand-new and re-mastered short stories featuring the popular BloodRayne (based on the video game character), the iconic E-Man, also including cult favorites Fist of Justice and Zombie Highway! Plus, get sneak peeks at upcoming titles Crazy Mary, and Joshua Fialkov and Kody Chamberlain's Punks! All encased within a must-have wraparound jam cover by their respective artists!
32pgs, B&W FREE

Please note that this is an "original" Punks story that will NOT appear in the regular issues of the upcoming comic. And it's in full color! Don't miss out on the very first "FREE" appearance of these characters, or you might find yourself paying 40 bucks for a copy on eBay. So please, drop by your local comic book store and ask them to pre-order this book!

> Info on Free Comic Book Day on the official site
> Find a comic shop with ComicShopLocator.com

Impaler in Wizard

Impaler gets a nice plug in the current issue of Wizard (#186). In the Wizard Edge section, 40 of the top indy books are discussed, and Impaler comes in at # 5.

The first three issues of Impaler are on sale now!

Shout Out: Jackie Karma

Been digging on the Jackie Karma promo stuff B. Clay Moore is posting on his LiveJournal. Really looking forward to checking this one out. Art by the very skilled Ed Tadem.

Clean, simple & professional

I spotted the MacGuffin (The Graphic Novel Bookshop) blog today and I was really impressed with the store photos. The idea is simple, the store looks clean and well organized and it's got a specific focus, graphic novels. Comic shops are awesome, but they tend to cater to a very specific audience. This type of graphic novel bookstore is a great variation on the theme.

WizardWorld LA 2007

Booked my flight and table for the WizardWorld LA convention in a few weeks. The Artists Alley list is getting HUGE. Here's a peek at the list so far, and I'm told there are more updates coming soon [James Abrams, Kei Acedera, Jerry Ahern, Aaron Akagi, Jonnie Allan, J. Andrew Clark, Ray-Anthony Height, Adam Archer, Erik Arreaga, Joseph Atkinson, Richard Barrett, Joe Benitez, Ryan Benjamin, Jeff Bennett, Rich Birdsall, Khalid Birdsong, Tim Bithoney, Matthew Bojangles aka Marine, Tim Bradstreet, Andrew Brennan aka Stardusty, Mark Brooks, David Bullock, Buzz, Adam Byrne, Talent Caldwell, Eric Canete, Tom Carroll aka Mr. Mustard Seed, Mac Carter, Kody Chamberlain, Bernard Chang, Sean “Cheeks” Galloway, Sean Chen, Ben Chin, Bobby Chin, Eddy Choi, DJ Coffman, David Colman, Amanda Conner, Jerrell Conner, Derek Croston aka kitsunekage, Carlos D'Anda (Saturday Only), Peter David, Walt Davis, Kirk Dilbeck, Robert Duenas, David Finch, Jason Fitch, Tess Fowler, Zac Freudt aka Zac, Joe Gabbard, Alé Garza, Angelo Gines, Gomez, Joel Gomez, Trevor Goring, Christian Gossett, Shawn Granger aka Mr. Granger, Christopher Grice, Erich Haeger, Javier Hernandez, Sandra Hope, Greg Horn, Zach Howard, Dave Johnson, Jeff Johnson, JJ Kirby, Mike Laico, Dan Leister, Henry Liao, Todd Livingston, Pat Loika, Alan Ly, David Mack, Jim Mahfood, Dennis Mallonee, Jason Martin, Brett Marting, Mike Mayhew, Chris Maze, Angel Medina, Mendoza, Joshua Middleton, Matthew Mohammed, Patrick Morgan, Yelena Morozenko, Sean Murphy, David Nakayama, Mat Nastos, Todd Nauck, Kadir Nelson, Dustin Nguyen, Oliver Nome, Andre Owens, Jason Palmer, Jimmy Palmiotti, Dan Panosian, Chris Pate, John Paul Leon, Philip Peralez, Omaha Perez, Brian Phillipson, Rochelle Phister, Whilce Portacio, Humberto Ramos, Joseph Rintoul aka Wingnut, James Riot aka MrRiot, Matt Roberts, Enrique Robledo, Tone Rodriguez, Alberto Ruiz, A. S. Williams aka Vindibudd, Mark Sable, Tim Sale, Michael Sales, Tony Salmons, Boris Savic, Stuart Sayger, J. Scott Campbell, Barret Shikuma, Bill Sienkiewicz, Stephen Silver, Erick Sosa, Beth Sotelo, Christina Strain, Winston Suk, Phillip Tan, Jon Tavss, Art Thibert, Billy Tucci, Ernesto Vazquez, Gus Vazquez, Ray Villafane, Mark Walters, Mark Walters, Len Wein, Dan Wickline, Bill Willingham, Chris Winsia, Dire Wolf, Mark Wolfe, Marv Wolfman, Dave Wong, Kristin Wosar aka Green Tangerine, Charles Yang, Skottie Young, Doug Zolondek]

Should be a great con! I'll have art from a few new unannounced projects to show, and I'll make sure I work up a new sketchbook. Who's coming?

Bloodbourne... In colour...

So - the first six coloured pages of the book Szymon (30 Days Of Night, Scatterbrain) Kudranski and I have been working on - Bloodbourne - Bite Of The Living Dead are now up and available to read at my ComicSpace Gallery.

Yours truly did the lettering, so don't expect genius, and the logo is a place holder until someone can design us a better one, but I think this is some of the most beautiful stuff that Szymon has ever done.

Anyway, have a look, let us know what you think.

Now all we need is a publisher for it...

Three Rivers

Three Rivers is the follow up to Elk's Run by Noel Tuazon and myself. Where Elk's Run dealt with isolation and loneliness, Three Rivers is about growing up in the seat of modern civilization... the suburbs.

It's a bit scary how similar they are.

The plan for right now is to put up a new chapter every month for free, with access to the archive for a buck a month.

In that archive, you can also access a bunch of my early mini-comics, comics by Noel, and some of my Western Tales of Terror stories.

So, please, check out the first part of the book, and let us know what you think!

Some sketchbook stuff

I dropped some sketchbook stuff up on my message board, these were done on a cruise Kristie and I took a few weeks ago.

These were all done with pencil, the Pentel Color Brush, a single small tube of brown watercolor paint (I think it was burnt sienna) and a water filled Pentel Color Brush that I emptied an cleaned out. Some pen stuff here and there on a few edges.

Had a blast doing these, and it was great to just have some free-form sketch time that wasn't work related. See the whole set on my message board.

Unravel #1 in Previews

New Shadowline Miniseries Continues Crime Comics Renaissance

BERKELEY, CA -- 19 January, 2007 -- The crime comic renaissance started by Warren Ellis's FELL, Ed Brubaker's CRIMINAL and Michael Avon Oeming's THE CROSS BRONX continues this April UNRAVEL ­ an all-new four-issue miniseries from Image Comics and Shadowline.

Written by Dan Wickline with art by Homeros Gilani, UNRAVEL begins with a stormy night foot pursuit through Central Park that leaves Officer Lindsey Shaw at the mercy of an amnesiac stranger. Attempts to identify the mystery man point to a connection with a decade-old cold case murder that is not only unlikely, but seemingly impossible. Thrust into a case where nothing makes sense, Shaw must figure out how her case ties to a man killed while in police custody and then convicted posthumously of murder.

"Lindsay comes from a long line of NYPD police officers," explains Wickline. "It's in her blood. She trusts her gut and takes the risks necessary to get the job done. The problem is that the case she's working on is unlike any she's ever seen. She's forced to look at everything ­ and everyone ­ she trusts differently. Even herself."

Featuring twists, turns, shady characters, deceptions and people trying to do good in the worst of circumstances, UNRAVEL gives fans of crime comics exactly what they want and is certain to keep readers guessing all the way through to the end.

UNRAVEL #1 (FEB071880), a 32-page comic with a cover price of $3.50 ships, is available for order in the March issue of Diamond Previews, with a ship date of APRIL 25.