JC Ciesielski (55)
Parents worry. A very short sentence, but one that rings true everytime. Parents are always concerned about the well being of their children, be they 5 or 50. This is the main ingredient in the stew that is John Saul's novel, The God Project. Written in 1982, Saul was interestingly prolific about his use of technology in his novel, technology that has come to exist on one level or another. The story of the death and disappearance of children, parental woe and inquiry, cover-ups, subterfuge, and medical miracles are what make up this story . . . so far. This is based on the graphic novelization published by Bluewater Comics, written by David McIntee, based on the work of John Saul, and penciled by Federico De Luca.
*Black Kiss #2 is for mature readers only.
The late eighties in Los Angeles, California. A time of excitement and mystery. In 1988 Sonny Bono is elected mayor of Palm Springs, Coming to America is making audiences across the country laugh, and Ronald Reagan is bumbling around trying to find Iran on the map. An exciting time, indeed. Amidst all of this excitement takes place the story of Black Kiss by Howard Chaykin, one of the most controversial comics of its time. Any story involving pre-op trannies, vampires, sex, stars of the silent film era, the Vatican, prostitution, sex, murder, cults, and hard-edged noir crime makes for a compelling story. There's also quite a bit of sex.
Orchid, the name of an exquisite flower representing between 6 to 11 percent of all seeded plants in the world. Orchid, the name of which comes from the Greek ὄρχις (órkhis), literally meaning "testicle," because of the shape of the root. Orchid, the lead character - beautiful, resourceful, and delicate all at once - in the graphic novel by Tom Morello. Coincidence? I think not.
Orchid is the brain child of Rage Against the Machine/Audio Slave guitarist Tom Morello, who also performs solo under the political folk alter ego, "The Nightwatchman." Another comic coincidence? I would guess no. Morello, who grew up in suburban Chicago, went from there to be not only the first in his school, but the first in his town not only to apply to Harvard, but to be accepted. Afterwards, once moved to Los Angeles, he introduced a fellow high school student to some new friends out in LA who became the band Tool. Morello also in those early years worked as a male exotic dancer to pay the bills. Trying his hand in the Sunset Strip metal music scene, he was rejected at the time for his lack of 2-foot-tall, teased out hair and spandex. Moving on to the East Side underground music scene, he was embraced by accepting friends, many of which were prostitutes or drug addicts, all of which did not judge. Does Orchid hold a fun house mirror up to Morello's own young personal life? The world may never know, but this old owl leans towards yes.
Hey, kids! Here at Fanboy Comics, we strive to get you the information that you desire, the most up-to-date information possible. But, we would have no reason to put out this info if not for you, the fans. It's you that gives us a purpose to give you links, create reviews, do interviews, and listen to Huey Lewis and The News. We just want to share a few shots of your brethren (and sistren?) from Friday night's midnight showing of The Dark Knight Rises (in Pittsburgh, PA). It is this type of dedication and comradery that makes it all the more wonderful to be a Fanboy.
As soon as I read White Devil #1, my mind went directly to a section of the song "Frank's Wild Years" by Tom Waits. "Drove home, doused everything in the house, torched it. Parked across the street laughing, watching it burn, all Halloween orange and chimney red." But, in reverse. More so, the story of not necessarily settling in a place of complacency, but being born to it. Rather than looking towards relocation in a geographical sense, it's a mental, if not spiritual, one. I don't throw out major spoilers (unless they're in the fridge), but I'll say this. It had me from page one. Authors Matt Evans and Andrew Helinski weave together, with the art work of Nate Burns, the opening of a tale I'd be interested in seeing the rest of.
Not to start off with this old cliche, but how many times has this happened to you? You're traversing the corridors of a hotel when you turn a corner and see a man wearing only dance pants and a very well-made Elmo mask, either practicing dance moves or having a seizure. I can use the word seizure, because I have a brain tumor. That's our word.
As I sit here on a randomly snowy April morning listening to The Blues Brothers soundtrack, my mind drifts to the likes of The Nerima Daikon Brothers. Like Hideki and Ichiro trying to desperately save their precious daikon field by any means necessary, I'm reminded of two hardworking women scrambling to keep a huge anime convention together. Those two gracious ladies are Jeanie Rabatsky and Allison Milwid, since President/CEO Jim Gogol was rather sick during the pre-production portion of putting on Tekkoshocon X, which took place from March 21-25. A four-day con is a rare thing, but so wise it boggles the four brain cells I have left. The first night of the con was actually held at approximately 6 p.m. at the Hollywood Theatre in Dormont, PA. The genius of this, besides giving anime and manga fans an early start to collect their weekend passes, was to cut down on the lines for the following day, when hordes of preteens bombarded the hotel in which the convention was held. Atlas may have been able to shrug, but Jeanie and Allison had to wait until the con was over, packed up, and ready to go for the next one. Besides having to wrangle guests, volunteers, staff, and myself, they had their hands full. I must say, ladies, you did a hell of a job.
"Diamond" David Lee Roth. Steve Perry. Peter Gabriel. Hellboy. Besides all falling under the category of "awesome," one may ask what they have in common. The answer? They may have gone on to interesting, if not magnificent, solo careers, but they left behind groups that could hold their own and persevered without them. Most replaced that lead position, some from within, while others added to the group and came into their own. One of which is The Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense, otherwise known as the B.P.R.D.
Look at you, my little one! My oh my, aren't you getting big?! You're almost as tall as a stalk of corn! Also, from what I hear, just about to turn another year older! (If female and under the age of 18, please continue reading the article. If older than 18 and in the Greater Pittsburgh area or willing to travel, please contact Fanboy Comics for my contact information. If male just be quiet, sit there, and learn something) Good for you! Why don't you take a seat on your 'Ol Pappy J.C.'s knee (only girls 18 or older), and I can tell you the interesting story of a bygone era that was before the Comic Code Authority.
When you have multiple balls coming at you from all sides, usually you're either working in the adult film industry (ask for extra pay) or you're the last kid on one side of a dodgeball game. Nay, perchance you're playing the game of kings (most commonly that royal title is of the burger variety or McCheese Mayors), a game of flippers, spinners, locked balls, extra balls, and many a ramp (again, not porn), I speak of Pinball!
Well, I just got finished watching Disney Pixar's Up. First and foremost, I would like to say, John Lasseter and crew, you sneaky sons-a-bitches, you did it again. As the menu screen slowly burns into my TV, I sit here wiping my eyes (equally from tears of laughter and from other squishy emotions) and pondering what makes a Pixar film so great. I don't want to say that their works are formulaic, but they do have a rhythm and rhyme that is distinctly Pixar.
Most are aware that there is no great story without great conflict. Hamlet, The Divine Comedy, Porky's Two: The Next Day; they all shared this ethos. Pixar has taken spinning tragedy into a wonderful plot to an art form, though. Let's run down a quick list. Toy Story 1 and 2 (soon to be 3) all dealt with loss of some kind. With Monster's Inc., it was a loss of home for poor Boo. A Bug's Life, well, you have me there; maybe going through changes, metamorphosis, and what not. I don't really remember that one well. Touching, but not to say so tragic that one feels the immediacy of the loss. Childhood playthings, the home and friends you grew up with: these are the things that we look back on with nostalgia and ennui. Moving on.