Month: May 2009

Florida SuperCon

Next week is the Florida SuperCon in Miami.  With over 100 media celebrities and comic guests in attendance [including Bruce Campbell, Ted Raimi, Chris Claremont, Tony Moore, Dick Giordano, Dennis Calero, Mitch Breitwesier and scores of others], costume events, video gaming, panels and more, there should be something for everyone.

I’ll be there on Saturday checking things out.  Hope to see you there!

Andrew Charipar’s Cobra

Here’s Andrew Charipar’s take on Stallone as “Cobra” and a humorous story that goes with it.  I got this sketch from Andrew at the 2009 FX con.  Although I regularly visit Andrew’s blog, I’d never met him.  A few weeks before FX, Andrew posted that he’d take requests for sketches to have ready for anyone attending the show.  I put in for the Stallone character of his choice.  A few days later, Andrew posted the Stallone piece you see here and said I could pick it up at FX.

The weekend of the show arrived and I found Andrew’s table.  He had art available for sale, his sketchbook, and comics spread out.  A small group of folks were around his table ordering or picking up sketches.   I waited my turn, stepped up and said, “Hi.  I think you have a Cobra for me.”  A puzzled look crossed Andrew’s face and he replied, “I don’t think so.”  Now I was the one looking confused.  Andrew asked, “Are you sure you requested a Cobra from me?”

Now I know that he’s drawn the piece — I’ve seen it on his website, but I can tell by the look on his face that he has no idea why I would think that he’s drawn me a Cobra sketch.  I go on, “My name is Craig Zablo.  I requested the sketch through your website and you decided to do Stallone as Cobra.”  It’s like a light went on and Andrew replied, “Oh, a Stallone Cobra!  My buddy and I were just talking about GI Joe and we thought you were referring to ‘that’ Cobra.”  Andrew then proceeded to pull out the piece you see above.

Andrew’s a cool guy with very reasonable prices for his sketchbook and originals.  Check out his blog and give him some props.

Get Your [Dominic] Fortune

Earlier this month I posted this Howard Chaykin drawing of his Dominic Fortune character.  I also spoke of how much I loved Chaykin’s work on the Dominic Fortune stories.  The drawing was from nearly thirty years ago, about a little known [at least to the masses] comic book character.

Last night as I was looking through the latest issue of Previews I was surprised to read that Howard Chaykin is bringing back Dominic Fortune in a new story that Chaykin is writing, penciling and inking!   That’s the solicitation art above and here’s what they say about the story:

“The depression’s going strong, so when Dominic Fortune is hired to bodyguard Jock Madison, Vaughn Lorillard and P.T. Oakley, three drunk and disorderly Hollywood stars, he jumps at the chance to pick up what looks like a few easy bucks, and maybe have a few laughs in the bargain. But when the trio of old school hambones and horndogs prove to be a bigger pain than he anticipated — and he accidentally stumbles across a conspiracy headed by mysterious American businessman Malcolm Upshaw and Delatriz Betancourt, the recklessly sexy granddaughter of Confederates who fled Reconstruction for South AmericaFortune finds himself in hot water…with the fate of the USA at stake. Explicit Content$3.99 In stores August 5th

It’ll be fun to see what Chaykin has cooked up.  Who knows, maybe if I post some drawings of Cody Starbuck and Monark Starstalker, Chaykin will revisit them as well!

Mills’ SpyFi Channel

Hey, if you’ve got some time to kill [and you must or you wouldn’t be here], then you might want to check out Chris Mills latest blog, which he calls the SpyFi Channel.  I don’t know which I like best, the name or the header that Chris created.

At the SpyFi ChannelChris will cover the world of spies — movies, books, tv — the whole enchalada.  Be advised that Chris won’t update regularly, but when he does, it will definitely be worth a view.  He’s started off with a look at Robert Conrad’s spy series [no, not The Wild, Wild West – one of my all-time favorite shows] A Man Called Sloane.

It’s cool that Chris has another blog going… as long as it doesn’t take away from getting the next Gravedigger story out.  And I still think a Gravedigger novel could really work! Until then, you’ll find me at the SpyFi Channel!

Insignares’ “Expendable”

Miguel Insignares gifted me with this cool shot of Sly from “The Expendables”Miguel said that once I send him a high-res copy, he’ll color it and add Sly’s tatsMiguel always has several irons in the fire and he’s currently developing a very cool concept for a comic/movie.  I can’t say any more about it at this time, but believe me, I’ll keep you posted as it develops.

Big thanks to Miguel for hooking me up!

UFC 98 Results

As you can see from the photo above, “Sugar” Rashad Evans was knocked out in the second round by Lyoto “Dragon” MachidaEverything Evans lost, Machida gained… both had undefeated records going in to the fight [Evans lost his and Machida gained another win], Evans had the championship belt which will now rest around the waist of Machida.

Matt Hughes won a close, but unanimous decision [29-28 on all three judges cards] over Matt Serra.  It was the last fight on Hughes’ contract, but he expressed an interest to keep fighting and feels he can be competitive in the division.  Serra, on the other hand, seemed more interested in getting some pasta.

UFC 98 Tonight

I really thought I’d be more stoked for tonight’s UFC 98 card.  There’s really only two fights that interest me and they are, naturally enough, the co-main event fights.

Matt Hughes and Matt Serra are going to finally get to settle their differences in the octagon.  I think that Hughes will dominate Serra.  He’s bigger, stronger and has the much better record against tougher competition.  Of course that was true when Serra fought GSP and we all know how that turned out.

“Sugar” Rashad Evans risks his title and undefeated record when he faces Lyoto “Dragon” MachidaMachida is also undefeated.  Evans always goes in as the underdog, but also always finds a way to win.  Ye Gods!  I may be wrong, but I’m going with Machida.

Results tomorrow!

Chaykin Departure with Bruce Lee

Yesterday I posted the cover to The Deadly Hands of Kung Fu #14 published by Marvel back in 1975.  Today we have the front piece to the same mag, again featuring Bruce Lee, but this time drawn by Howard Chaykin.  One of the interesting things about this is that it’s a departure from Chaykin’s usual style.

I wish that the scan had come out better because the pencil work was much more delicate than it appears here.

Two Legends – One Cover

Two legends grace this cover of Deadly Hands of Kung Fu #14 published by Marvel back in 1975.  Who’s the other legend, you ask?  Well, it depends on which you see.

Action fans immediately know that it’s Bruce Lee shown on the cover.  Comic art fans just as quickly see that Neal Adams did the art.  My guess is, if you regularly read the ZONE you recognized both,