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Just Like Heaven
Just Like Heaven And so I return to the well that is The Cure. I'm not 100% satisfied, but, it's fun.
This is for Tara, by the way.
Last Chance To Vote
Noel Draws Comic-Con
Noel Draws Comic-Con
Originally uploaded by Joshua Hale Fialkov.
Noel Draws Comic-Con
Noel Draws Comic-Con
Originally uploaded by Joshua Hale Fialkov.
Heh
Heh
Originally uploaded by Joshua Hale Fialkov.
Portrait
Portrait by Ken Plume Copyright 2006
The Lone and Level Sand - Comic Con Reviews
First up from my Comic Con stash is The Lone and Level Sand by A. David Lewis, mpMann, and Jennifer Rodgers. I read the book in it's first printing, which was softcover, black and white, and published by ADL's Caption Box comics. I enjoyed it in that form, but, I felt the grayscale art wasn't quite right, and the lettering wasn't top notch.
This new version by Archaia Studio Press is positively breath-taking. The colors make the art pop, the production is amazing, the redone lettering and general book design makes the book the complete package it always deserved to be.
The book is a thoroughly researched retelling of the story of Moses and the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt, as seen in that one Charlton Heston movie. The big difference is that the book is told from a historical perspective, and more importantly, from Pharoah's point of view. It comes of as an even-handed portrait of a man who while certainly a villain, had quite a bit more going on then was ever really addressed in that big leather bound scroll they kept up in the daius until trotting it around the shul on Saturday mornings.
Probably the biggest suprise for me about the book and it's reception is how little flack ADL got for doing the angle he did. Despite the thoughtful and delicate way he handles what to just about 2/3rds of the world would be blasphemy, the knee jerk reaction (and this even to my lapsed Jewish self) is "What the fuck do I need to feel bad for Pharoah for?" Well, you don't. He obviously had a choice and he made the wrong one.
The use of religious mysticism versus practical logic is pretty brilliant and reminiscent of the work done in Age of Bronze, another thoroughly researched look at a time period best known for portrayal in an Epic Poem or two.
Anyways, LaLS is really a wonderful piece of literature that hasn't gotten the attention it deserves, so, do yourself (and my buddy ADL) a favor and pick it up. It's dirt cheap on Amazon and it's thus far my favorite Graphic Novel of the year.
Oh, and it's up for a Harvey Award or two, so make sure to vote for it if you're eligible to vote. (And while you're at it.... there's this other obscure indie book up for... eh, forget it. Just vote for Bendis or Brubaker and break my little heart.)
Lone and Level Sands. Go. Buy it.
072206_21081.jpg
072206_21081.jpg
Originally uploaded by Joshua Hale Fialkov.
Comic Con
I keep meaning to take pictures but I'm forgetful. Have some pictures from tonight's Random House Panel up by morning, in theory. Things are well, if you're reading this, and at the con, don't forget my panel tonight at 6pm. Cheers.
For Your Consideration…
Originally uploaded by Joshua Hale Fialkov.
We've kept fighting through self-publishing and Speakeasy and that weird unpublished limbo we spent several months in. But we never gave up, and we owe that to you guys. And it's worked – Elk's Run has tallied seven Harvey Nominations and is being collected by Random House.
But here comes July 28th, the deadline for Harvey final ballots – and we come to you all once again, hat in hand. Your votes count and can help make the difference for us.
You can download your ballot here: http://harveyawards.org/, the information for submissions is contained therein. We'd also like to recommend the excellent work of all of our supporters who are also nominated, including Brian Michael Bendis, Brian K. Vaughan, and A. David Lewis. It's an honor to be nominated alongside you guys.
See you in San Diego,
j.
Yeesh
What a weekend. I wrote for around 30 hours this weekend. Mostly stuff nobody'll ever see which is... strange. But, I'm definitely back in the zone, and am cranking stuff out at an alarming rate. The week before Comic-Con is always highly productive, if only to make up for the weeks afterwards where I'm too dead to do anything but sleep. And I recorded two songs somehow during all of that. And saw Pirates of the Caribbean. Jebus. I need a vacation.
I had this strange dream about me and a few friends hanging out outside an abandoned building and being chased by a slasher villain who's weapon of choice was something akin to the Flying Guillotine mixed with a giant fucking bear trap. I'm still unclear on what it meant, but I'm happy to take Freudian/Jungian analysis.
Shock Treatment
Ah, just got the Shock Treatment sountrack in the mail today. Shock Treatment is the mostly ignored sequel to The Rocky Horror Picture Show. I have on VHS (although, I don't know that i have a VCR that works anymore), and it's actually a pretty good time. It's sort of a surrealist post-modern type thing, with some excellent pop-rock a la Rocky Horror.Anyways, according to Amazon, there's a DVD on the way, but, who knows. Highly recommended all the same.
Just How I Left It
Just How I Left It This is the first original I've written in a while that I really, really like. Lyrics could use some tightening, but, this one was pretty much free form, so I guess all things considered it's pretty good.
Nice and stripped down production as well, only 3 tracks.
American Music
American Music Jebus, everyone wants me to do Violent Femmes songs. So, I do the must mundane middle of the road one there is. Mostly because one of my old bands used to play it, so I actually know the words. Most of the words anyways. I also found a long-thought-lost cache of harmonicas, which you can hear in full effect throughout.
Today was a good day…
I didn't use my AK. Had more good stuff then a guy should ever expect happen today to both me and my friends, so, it's time to rock out.
With or without your cock out. I'll make that individual's last free choice.
Comic-Con Schedule
First year I won't be running from booth to booth non-stop, which is pretty nice. Anyways, if you want to see me, here's the times and places I willl defiinitely be.
Thursday July 20th - 6:00 PM - Random House Publishing Group PanelFriday July 21st - 2:00 PM - Signing Punks Lithos with Kody Chamberlian at Artist Alley Table JJ-02
Saturday July 22nd - 12:00 PM - Signing at the Random House/Del Rey Booth
hacked
The Punks Site Got Hacked Apparently, the Turkish Islamic Seperatist Movement understands the importance and scope of Punks the Comic. Soon, we hope to announce a publisher who agrees with them.
About Punks.
Not about the seperatist stuff.
Why Won’t You
Why Wont You So, I haven't recorded in over a week because I've been sick as shit, and my throat's been blown out. So, I'm all raspy voiced. Which somehow made me write a song as though I was a member of Matchbox 20 or Creed.
It's purely embarassing. Unless you're a record producer who wants to buy it, in which case it's not even slightly tongue in cheek.
Enjoy, and forgive my shitty voice.
Dreams Do in Fact Come True
Homicide: Life on the Street - The Complete Series - with Law & Order Crossovers!
For anyone who doesn't follow this blog, or talk to me, Homicide is my favorite TV show of all time. It's the very definition of what's great about the one hour drama as a format, and a high water mark for what Network TV is capable of.
From Homicide sprang the HBO Dramas (literally in the case of Oz and The Wire, and spiritually for all the rest.) A Cop Show that's about cops rather than case of the week, about character rather then sensationalism, and populated with some of the best actors to have share the small screen. It's a masterclass in dialogue, pacing, and directing.
Every aspect of the show is breathtaking, even the season 2 guest-star-a-ramas are pretty excellent.
Plus it has what are the best episodes of Law & Order ever made, thanks to finally including the crossover episodes. You realize that holy shit, Jerry Orbach has a character! Benjamin Bratt actually CAN act. These guys aren't just one line of dialogue about their personal life per episode, they actually have characters. What's funny is that as you watch L&O episodes that follow the Homicide crossover episodes, the acting from the leads is that much better because they've been given a chance to develop their characters.
Anyways, buy the fucking thin, it's worth every penny.