- @cinematicpix
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Tuesday, October 24, 2017
Supergirl, Arrow, And American Gods Stars Take It Off For A Good Cause
Monday, June 26, 2017
Stan Lee’s Los Angeles Comic Con’s “A Conversation With” Monthly Live Streaming Showcase From Meltdown Comics To Feature Author-Illustrator Sina Grace
Wednesday, August 31, 2016
MOVIE PREVIEW: "The Chair" (Presented by Alterna Comics)
TITLE:
The CHAIR
PRODUCTION COMPANY:
Alterna
WEBSITE:
http://thechairhorror.com
http://alternacomics.com
SOCIAL MEDIA:
http://twitter.com/thechairhorror
http://facebook.com/thechairhorror
FILM MPAA RATING:
NR
SUGGESTED AUDIENCE:
Adults (Due to strong language and violence)
RUN TIME:
94 mins.
SYNOPSIS:
Based on the Alterna Comics graphic novel of the same name, THE CHAIR follows the story of Richard Sullivan, an innocent man struggling to escape execution on death row. Witnessing the savage killings of his fellow inmates at the hand of the prison's sadistic and psychotic Warden, Sullivan decides that the only way to survive is to fight back. But as he matches the brutality occurring in the prison, Sullivan is forced to come face to face with his sanity and his own horrifying past.
DIRECTOR:
Chad Ferrin
CAST LIST:
Bill Oberst Jr.
Roddy Piper
Naomi Grossman
Timothy Muskatell
Noah Hathaway
Zach Galligan
Ezra Buzzington
Kyle Hester
Derrick Damions
Kin Shriner
Susan Eisenberg
Jacob Banser
John Siciliano
Tomas Boykin
Robert “Corpsy” Rhine
Joe Laurinaitis
Joseph Pilato
Jack deLyra
Harley Burks
Zebadiah DeVane
Christian Hutcherson
Michael Berthold
Brent Anthony
Andrew Marheineke
REVIEW QUOTES:
"...a chilling experience inside death row, where murderers, rapists and pedophiles become victims."
- Barbara Torretti, DARKVEINS
"...pulls no punches to bring to life a psychotic world."
- William Meeker, TFK's WEB OF INDIE HORROR AND SCIENCE FICTION
"Although there is torturing in it, there is more plot and other elements that dig much deeper, both into the story and characters than just trying to gross out your audience with sadistic torture scenes. ...there’s more to it than that and that’s what separates this from most films of this type."
- Andrew Peters, KINKY HORROR GOON REVIEW
Wednesday, March 11, 2015
COMIC BOOK REVIEW: "Spring Heeled Jack #3"
Writer: Tony Deans
Artist: Seth Kumpf
Letterer: Joshua Cozine
Publisher: Alterna Comics
After Doyle found himself face-to-face with Spring Heeled Jack in issue #2, he finds out something peculiar about the creature that appeared to be a vampire. And "Jack" has finally found himself a worthy opponent.
In this issue you'll find out what "Jack" is, and see how Doyle plans on stopping it. But will it work?
The third installment of SHJ finds us with a new artist. Martha Laverick had to leave the comic, taking her simplistic, soft art with her. She was replaced by Seth Kumpf, an artist whose style is similar to Mike Mignola and Gabriel Bà. It's thicker, rougher and brighter than Laverick's work, and the characters do look different here, but it still works. And of course the writing is as good as it's always been. If anything, that got better.
I love the depth of the tale, with an obscure paranormal creature being brought to light. I only heard of this particular monster in popular fiction once before, on am episode of the CW show Supernatural.
Plus, we get an appearance by Harry Houdini! I am curious to know who else we might come across in the next issue.
Another cliffhanger ending, another book that leaves me wanting more!
5/5--might be my new favorite comic!
Purchase Spring Heeled Jack from your local comic shop or from these online retailers!
COMIC BOOK REVIEW: "Spring Heeled Jack #2"
Writer: Tony Deans
Artist: Martha Laverick
Letterer: Joshua Cozine
Publisher: Alterna Comics
In the second installment of the horror/mystery comic Spring Heeled Jack, which centers around Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, we find Doyle and Bell trying to get an arrest for Jack, but their plans don't exactly go as planned...
Horror. Vampires. Mystery. The man who created Sherlock Holmes. Personally, I don't need anything else to know that this comic is going to be awesome. Seriously, vampires and Doyle. There can't be anything more interesting and riveting!
The story reads like a movie. Your eyes move smoothly across the pages, effortlessly and with a sense of urgency to know what's next. The characters are similar (probably purposely) to Holmes and Watson, but with a little extra bite to them (no pun intended).
In addition, there is a small steampunk element to this issue. It passes quickly, but it intrigues me to know of they'll include more of it in the future.
There's also nepotism, favoritism, and political connections that make things even more interesting.
I can't say much, because this is only twenty-three pages long, and giving too much away is the exact opposite of my intentions. Just let me say this: you need to read this comic! Even if you don't like comics in general, that's okay. If you like Doyle and Stoker, you're good!
5/5--Leaves me wanting more!
Purchase Spring Heeled Jack at your local comic shop or from these online retailers!
CREATOR INTERVIEW: Ken Penders at Long Beach Comic Expo 2/28/15
When I was little, my mom got me into Archie Comics titles Archie Digest amd Sabrina the Teenage Witch. After those, when I was seven, I found Sonic the Hedgehog. I became an avid fan and still am till this day. My favorite character is Knuckles the Echidna, and his entire race/backstory was my favorite thing to read about, especially the kick-ass Lara-Su.
I never really noticed who wrote or drew the comics. Back then, I didn't care. But when I accidentally came across Ken Penders' booth at LBCE and realized that he was the one whose stories I'd been reading for fourteen years, I was star-struck! When he agreed to an interview that day, I was over the moon!
Here he talks about his plans for Lara-Su, amd much more!
[Quick note, the patch I photographed is what the Royal Secret Service: Strategic Acorn Ops wore in STH, particularly Geoffrey, their leader.]
1. When/why did you decide to get into comics?
I wanted to do comics ever since I was a little kid. I was influenced by the work of Jack Kirby on Fantastic Four. That just blew me away and I didn't understand it, I didn't know how these things were done or who did it, I just knew I wanted to create comics. I would draw my own comics as a kid, and eventually I found out that yes, there's actual companies that publish this stuff, ans this is what you have to do in order to go to.work for them. It was qa process,.but I always wanted to it all my life.
2. Aside from Fantastic Four, what were your other inspirations?
My favorites back then were Fantastic Four and Batman, especially Carmine Infantino's interpretation of the character. I loved Jim Starlin's Nick Fury Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. stories; I became a huge S.H.I.E.L.D. fan because of those. And Gil Kane, his Green Lantern. Those are main favorites of mine.
3. You did create different characters for the Sonic The Hedgehog and Knuckles The Echidna comic series for Archie Comics. Why did you choose to expand the Lara-Su storyline?
Basically, I don't own Sonic or Knuckles. But I own my characters, I own my stories and I actually had this long arc that was designed to take Knuckles from birth to beyond his lifespan; show his legacy. I never got to do that, so when this whole situation came up with regards--and Archie Comics wasn't at fault for this--but SEGA used my characters in a video game. At that point, for example, my work had not been reproduced or reprinted the way it is now. There had been no reason to go forward with any claims or anything, because what would I be claiming infringement on? You have to be wronged first. So, when the video game came out and everybody was contacting me saying, "Okay, here, they're using your stuff as part of Sonic Chronicles." That's when the whole thing came about, going for my characters and stories, and as I was going through that process, people asked me, "What do you want out of this?" and I said, "I want to be able to continue telling the characters' stories." So then when I really sat down and thought about that, what it meant, it became obvious that Lara-Su, instead of Knuckles, would be the vehicle for continuing to tell the complete story pf what I already had planned to do.
4. Can you tell us a little of what you have planned for Lara-Su?
In a general sense, I am picking up the story where I left her off in Sonic #144, and I have a seven book arc. During the course of that arc, she and the rest of the characters are going to grow and have their own storylines and once you get to the ens of it, that's it: you're going to have a complete story. It's not designed to go on and on, it's okay, here's this big epic. There may be side stories along the way that people may want to see the blanks filled in on, but here's her story. By the time we get to the end, we're going to be looking at the legacy she's creating for the next generation.
5. Do you have any plans for or would you like to see an animated show for your arc?
Definitely have plans for that. If it becomes an animated series, great. If it becomes an animated film, great. But I think with a film like Guardians of the Galaxy out there, I don't why you can't have a mix of live action mixed in with the CGI. To me, that would be the ideal.
6. You've worked for many companies aside from Archie, including Disney and Marvel. What would you like to do next? Any particular company or story you'd like to be a part of?
No. The thing I want to do next, I am already doing, The Lara-Su Chronicles. I am currently working on a film The Republic. We actually have a completed film, it's just a matter of getting all the post-production work done. I finally have a gentleman assisting me with the audio, because that's not my forte. And he's got Academy Award nominations. So we're working on getting that ready for release, on iTunes, Netflix and Amazon Instant Video. I've spoken with the main actors and they're more than agreeable to go forward should we be able to go forward with further installments of that film. Right now, my son is helping me cut the trailer for my creation The Lost Ones, so we can shop that around. So, it's not so much a matter of limiting myself to just comics. I have a whole broad spectrum of things I can persue, and I'm doing it. It's just a matter of everything is time-consuming, everything is dependent on other people doing their parts as well. The only thing I have.complete control in is just getting the Lara-Su story and art done. And then whatever happens beyond that, that's up to what other people get involved.
I don't have this mindset of working for Marvel, DC or Image for example. Or Dark Horse pr whatever company like I did when I was younger. It's totally different now. I'm more into my own stuff than working on Superman or Batman.
7. You have done many different forms of art and media. What haven't you done yet that you'd like to?
Sculpture! 3D modeling. I've dabbled in some 3D modeling, but it's been very basic, very beginner. I really need to learn how to do it better, but I just don't have the time.
8. Is there anyone you'd like to collaborate with?
There are plenty of people I'd love to collaborate with! It's a matter of if we could find a project that interests the both of us, if our schedules come together. For example, my friend and partner Larry Houston approached me about this film project but the problem was what can we fit on this schedule? How do we move it forward? That sort of thing. There's all sorts of questions that need to be asked and resolved. With regards to a comic project, the people I'd want to work with are long past doing any such thing.
9. Thank you for participating in the interview. Can you please leave the readers with three things that may surprise them about you?
[Laughs] You know, that's a really difficult question for me, because I don't know how to answer that without somebody saying it's self-serving. I actually do love Sonic, contrary to popular belief! I actually am not angry or upset with Archie Comics in any way, shape or form; I am actually very proud of the work I've done for Archie and my association with the company's history. I think people would be surprised that I graduated high school at sixteen and went into the military as soon as I turned seventeen.
Find Mr. Penders online via:
Tuesday, February 17, 2015
COMIC BOOK REVIEW: "Old Wounds #1"
Title: Old Wounds #1
Writer: Russell Lissau
Artist: John Bivens
Letterer: Josh Southall
Publisher: Pop Goes The Icon
Editor: PJ Perez
Release Date: April 8, 2015
In the first issue of Pop Goes The Icon's newest title, Old Wounds, we meet Michael, a retired vigilante whose ex-wife, also a vigilante, has been killed in an explosion. The cops think he's responsible.
But when he gets together with the third member of their vigilante group, and the man's car is rigged to explode, he knows it's serious abd has to do with old enemies who are still nursing old wounds.
I've been reading this publisher's titles for over two years now, and every new title they release seem to get better and better! As a longtime superhero fan, I love the idea of retired heroes being targeted and (possibly) needing to come out of retirement (think amateur Justice League meets The Umbrella Academy...without the Kryptonians or men with giant monkey bodies).
The writing is simple, the story immediately intriguing. The tale is told half with the words and half with the art. Neither of them outshine the other. The art reminds me of how old manga was drawn and printed (Shonen Jump in the late 90's), very stark and easy to follow. It fit the story more than the bright colors you usually see in superhero comics.
It might be only twenty-six pages, but it tells a huge piece of what should prove to be a wonderful and deep story.
5/5--a very solid start!
[Will update the purchase links ASAP.]
Thursday, January 29, 2015
Stan Lee LiveJournal Video Contest!
LiveJournal (www.LiveJournal.com) launched a new video hosting feature and comicbook icon Stan Lee is the first person to utilize this new capability on the site, uploading a video about his contest – the worldwide search for Stan’s Biggest Fan – on his LiveJournal page:http://therealstanlee.livejournal.com/3008.html. LiveJournal boasts over 70 million users so lots of people will be able to see the video! Here's an article Fast Company wrote about the partnership: http://www.fastcompany.com/3041368/fast-feed/comics-legend-stan-lee-is-first-person-to-upload-video-to-livejournal
Just wanted to give you a heads up and ask if you can put up a quick post about this news and the fan contest before the contest ends January 30th….
The contest was announced by Stan on his LiveJournal page (http://therealstanlee.livejournal.com/) at his 4th annual Comikaze convention in Los Angeles over Halloween. Details about Stan’s Biggest Fan contest, as well as the link to submit entries, can be found here:http://therealstanlee.livejournal.com/856.html
Quote from LiveJournal CEO Katya Akudovich:
“LiveJournal is known as a place for people who want to share their views and thoughts without restriction. In a world where everyone else is trying to edit and shorten everything, we celebrate long-form content, which is why the site continues to be a popular place for many respected writers and creators such as Stan Lee,” said Katya Akudovich, LiveJournal CEO. “Today we’re thrilled to offer our community the opportunity to tell their stories through the power of video, which will undoubtedly bring more creative expression to LiveJournal. We're excited to see what our community will share!"
Monday, November 24, 2014
COMIC BOOK REVIEW/PREVIEW: "San Hannibal #5" (out 12/17/14)
Writer/Artist: Dan Schkade
Letterer/Colorist: Jesse Snavlin
Cover: Dan Schkade/Jesse Snavlin
Editor: PJ Perez
Publisher: Pop Goes The Icon
Throughout the course of San Hannibal’s five issues, writer/artist Dan Schkade and colorist/letterer Jesse Snavlin have put their protagonist, hard-luck private detective Ira Avery, through the ringer: He’s been shot at, beaten up, bombed, drugged and nearly buried alive in his search for Loy. And in the final issue of the “neon-noir” mini-series, the truth behind her disappearance is finally revealed—and so is the true face of power in San Hannibal.
San Hannibal #5 will be available on Dec. 17 in comic book stores and via popgoestheicon.com for $2.99, as well as through digital platforms such as Comixology, DriveThruComics and ComicsPlus for just $0.99 cents. To find a comic store near you, call 1-800-COMIC-BOOK or visit comicshoplocator.com.
After many long months, readers of San Hannibal will finally get the answer to that infamous question: "What's the story, Savannah Loy?"
With murders, conspiracy, elections, sex rings and deep thoughts in hospital rooms, the final issue of San Hannibal ends with a LOT of bangs! I've never read a comic book so fast in my life!
You might not believe it when you read it.
Throughout the series, I've said that the colors and art tell just as much of the story as the writing, and in the final issue, we are given an array of colors to dazzle the eyes. The writing and art are simplistic, but Jesse Snavlin's colors are anything but! They are as bright and enjoyable as the many layers Dan Schkade wrote into this miniseries. I see big things ahead in both of their respective careers!
Like I've said before, I would still prefer more narration from Ira in the book, and I think that in this final issue, that would've done well in summing up the story, but don't get me wrong: the ending was excellent and I will be rereading this over again soon!
A great comic choice if you're new to the comic book fandom and don't think superheroes are your cup of tea. And if you like mysteries, you'll gobble this up. Finally, if you just like a great story and great art, please buy this miniseries. You won't regret it!
5/5--one if today's best in the industry!
Monday, November 10, 2014
COMIC BOOK REVIEW: "Spring Heeled Jack #1)
Tony Deans (writer), Martha Laverick (artist), with lettering by Joshua Cozine.
Spring Heeled Jack is being published by New York Times Best Selling Publisher Alterna Comic and can be purchased online via Comixology and Drive Thru Comics.
There is panic and fear on the streets of London as more and more victims are claimed by Spring Heeled Jack, a figure supposedly able to breath fire and leap buildings in a single bound. The police are left stumped and so call on a young Arthur Conan Doyle and his mentor Joseph Bell to take charge of the case and to bring the culprit to justice once and for all. However, they'll find that Spring Heeled Jack is unlike any man they've encountered before and that they'll have to push themselves to the extremes to be able to stop a threat that may just be unstoppable...
Vampires and Arthur Conan Doyle. What could be better? Combining them in a comic book? Yes, that's better!
Spring Heeled Jack is a great comic, and the first issue will hook you and drag you in whether you want it to or not!
The art is very simplistic and perfect for the type of comic this is. It's light, feathery and the colors catch your eye, duller tones with vibrant red in spots.
The writing is superb, and makes you feel like you're reading something that was actually written in this era, not the 21st century. It's part horror and part mystery; nothing like your typical comic book. I really enjoyed reading this and am excited for issue two!
5/5--a great first issue!
Find Spring Heeled Jack online via:

















