Sunday, July 22, 2012

Think Outside the Long Box

To clear up for some of you the "long box" is a box made for keeping comic books in.I've recently heard people saying how they're either a DC or Marvel person which makes no sense to me if you're a true comicbook fan you shouldn't limit yourself to what you read.During comiccon weekend someone said they weren't interested in the Marvel movie news cause they're only into DC,I told them that they are doing a great disservice to themselves because Marvel is doing a great job with how they've been putting the movies together.Both companies have put out good and not so good things out there as far as movies,comics and animated DVDs and tv shows.
As a true "fanboy" or "fangirl" you should be checking out anything that comes out that might be interesting,there's so many good stuff out there from other companies and creator owned.Valiant is doing a company relaunch with titles like Harbinger and X-O Manowar,the great horror series Locke&Key by Hill and Rodriguez at IDW,Atomic Robo from Red 5 comics.Image comics has some cool creator owned books out there,Blue Estate,Mondo,Heart and of course Walking Dead.For really outside the box check out The Manhattan Projects by Hickman and Pitarra and Danger Club by Walker and Jones or Saucer Country by Paul Cornell for DC Vertigo line speaking of Vertigo one book that touched my heart was Daytripper by Fa'bio Moon and Gabriel Ba' a great 10 part series about a writer who dies at the end of each issue,trust me this book is a must have.
I've only mentioned a few books but there's so many out there it's a shame for people to limit themselves to just one company or another that they're missing out on some good stuff.So next time you visit your local comicbook store don't just grab from your "pull list" take a little time to wander down the idle you might find something different that could be a gem.
So until next time "stay geeky and hungry my friends!"


Saturday, July 14, 2012

No Place Like Home

Recently my wife and I had to make a trip back to our former home of Detroit Mi but we could only stay 1 day.I knew I could only see a few people of course my family was at top of the list but there was one place I had to visit,my "geek home" Liberty Comics.
Liberty Comics is a comicbook store located at 27639 Gratiot ave. in Roseville Mi.it was my home away from home you could find me there sometimes twice a week picking up the latest comics and having geeky conversations with fellow customers and the staff.Some people have a favorite bar or barber shop etc to hang out in,geeks have their favorite comicbook store where you can talk with your own "kind".
Soon as I walked in there was the owner Gale behind the counter with a big smile he welcomed me back and asked how things were going in Chattanooga.I told him I had trouble finding certain books and of course he had em,one of the young guys that work there spent alot of time with me talking creator owned books then Gale and I talked about how good Walking Dead is doing amongst the "non-geeks"and what's going on with the Green Lantern books and the genius that is Geoff Johns lol.I hated to have to leave but my time was limited my time there was so much fun.
If you live in the Detroit area or ever visit swing by Liberty Comics the guys there will make you feel at home and they won't make you feel like a outsider cause your not a comicbook geek.

Stay Geeky and Hungry my friends

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Interview of Up and Coming Artist Mario Daniels

G&E:1st off thanks for doing this interview on my little blog I appreciate it.
M.D:No problem Charles,this will only make my noggin 2 sizes larger.
G&E: Ok to start at what age and what inspired you to be a comicbook artist?

M.D: I was around 6 or 7yrs old my Godfather would bring me boxes of old 70's comics,Tomb of Dracula,Herod for Hire etc..but I didn't really click with comics til Spider-man.The art caught my eye it was dynamic and I did my best to copy it.Mike Weiringo (my greatest inspiration) Todd McFarlane,Mark Bagley and later Ed McGuinnes,Mark Texieria.After that it was a wrap! I was gonna be involved in comics one way or another.
G&E:Yeah I remember trying to copy art from comics as a kid too,so what were your favorite comics as a kid and what are you into now?

M.D:Spider-man for the 1st couple of years it was all Spidey.After that I moved on to Avengers,Black Panther was a favorite.DC I was into JLI (Bwahaha league)Blue Beetle &Booster Gold,Kyle Rayner GL.I liked the more humorous heroes or hard luck guys like Spidey or loveable cads like Booster Gold.
Current books,again humor or oddball is the thing so Chew,Army of Darkness,Manhattan Projects for more traditional comics Dan Slott's Spider-man,Batman,Swampthing,the occasional X-Force or whatever insanity Rick Rememder is up to.

G&E:So you have your 1st comicbook job coming up tell us about it.
M.D:I'm drawing a project for one Eric Trautman (writer-Red Sonja/Shooters OGN)can't give more details other than its my 1st professional gig.Current projects,1st my blog doitdoitleague.wordpress.com you get my weekly dose of random cartooning fun,from parodies (current TDKR)to one offs 'Eric &Twich' and more,also doing a webcomic for @Geektome for his relaunch of his blog ComicCultureWarrior.wordpress.com

G&E:Now for the important questions what do you like to snack on when drawing?
M.D:Snacks?well I'm more of a ice cold beer and draw guy,but when snacking and drawing I reach for the salty snacks,pretzels,popcorn and i'ma go country on ya! Pork Rinds! that pig got me sumthin fearce LOL!
G&E:What's your guilty pleasure food?Do you cook? If so what's your favorite thing to make?
M.D:My guilty pleasure food,hmm..never thought of that.I guess I would say nothing Maan! I'll eat anything if you cook it right.I BBQ,anything over 3 ingredients and I'm lost.
G&E:Thanks for letting me interview you Mario and good luck with all your projects and before we end this let people know how to to contact you if they would like to commission your work.
M.D:Anytime Charles to reach me,doitdoitleague@gmail.com,my blog doitdoitleague.wordpress.com and my Twitter @DoitDoitLeague.
G&E:To everyone who read this I hope you liked it stay hungry and geeky my friends.