Remember the... Nerds?

Happy Memorial Day! Since I grew up in a military town where we loved the troops everyday, I wasn't really clear what regular people DO on Memorial Day, but according to my co-workers, women shop and men drink beer and eat barbecue. Proof positive that Americans can turn any holiday AWESOME! Um... so anyways, here's a strip from that dude Marcel of Marcel Comics...

Marcel has a strip in the Powerman/Luke Cage tribute issue of GhettoManga Quarterly, which you can buy on Indyplanet... Incidentally, you can also cop Marcel's latest paperback collection Read or Die on IP as well, just click here. Or while you're here, feel free to click here to read my review of Marcel's last book, Did You Mean MARVEL Comics?
So anyways... watch out for jake, and enjoy your sales, adult beverages and barbecue.

holla!

samax.

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ATLANTA COMICON- Marcel Comics, Rachel Rage, Pam Grier and MORE!

Forgive Me Father by Marcel Comics

One of our favorite young funny book artists, Marcel Vann will be selling his comics and assorted what-nots at Wizard World's Atlanta Comicon this weekend. I reviewed his hilarious TPB Did You Mean MARVEL Comics? a while back, and he will also have copies of other books including his brand new joint Read or Die too, so set aside a few bucks just for him! And he won't be alone... There will lots of great media guests big and small in the house. here's a few I would definitely drop in on, if I was able to make it to Atlanta this weekend (which sadly, I'm not):

Legendary blaxploitation icon, writer and actress Pam Grier (at 61 years old, still hotter than hell) will be there, so it doesn't surprise me that Pam Grier superfan John Aston, creator of the Grier-inspired, ultra-violent, extra sexy revenge comic Rachel Rage will be there, too.  Unless you're new around here, you know how I feel about Aston's work in general and Rachel Rage in particular, but in case you missed it, click here for my review of the first Rachel Rage graphic novel Heartland.
Here's a laundry list of dope artists I would be checking for if I was gonna be there:

• Jake Williams III (Artist - Lethal Force)
• Chris Walker (Writer - Tiger Style; Raptor)
• Koi Turnbull (Artist - Fathom #1 Dawn of War Cannon Koi Turnbull,Terror, Inc.: Apocalypse Soon,Secret Invasion: New Warriors, One Month to Live)
• Cameron Stewart (Artist - Batman & Robin),
• the mighty Brian Stelfreeze (X-Men Legends Volume 4: Hated & Feared, The Ride, Wonder Woman: Down to Earth)
• Desmond Smith aka “Monty” (Co-Creator - Flying Zombies; Weclome to Border City)
• Bill Sienkiewicz (Artist - Elektra: Assassin; Moon Knight),
• Raymond Sanders (Creator - Fantasy Art Comics; Fierce, Co-Creator - I.P.F.; Avengence),
• John Rokk (Artist - Archer),
• Humberto Ramos (Artist - Spectacular Spider-Man Vol. 1: The Hunger (Venom); Revelations, Crimson),
• the mighty Jay Potts (Webcomics Creator - World of Hurt)
• David Pinckney (Creator/Writer - Laluelle Staff, Writer/Podcast Co-Host - ComicMonsters.com)
• Adrian “Asia” Petty (Writer\Creator - Ms. Johnni)
• James O'Barr (Creator - The Crow)
• my dude Robert James Luedke (Author/Illustrator/Colorist - Eye Witness: A Fictional Tale of Absolute Truth; Acts of the Spirit; Rise of the Apostle; Unknown God)
• Cully Hamner (Artist - Red; Black Lightning:Year One; Detective Comics; Green Lantern: Mosaic; Blue Beetle)
• Corey “Roc Bottom” Davis (Artist - Sequential Suicide: Noir; Jet Boy: All Jets Go!; Fallen Angels; Masters Devils)

for a complete list of guests, click here. Atlanta Comicon takes place at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta. Doors open Saturday at 10 am. have fun!
holla!

-samax.

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the Perfect Halloween costume?

Happy Halloween! by Marcel Comics...

 I Hope everyone has a safe and fun Halloween! Figured I'd drop this jewel on you from my dude Marcel Vann. check out more Marcel Comics on Facebook.

holla!

-samax.

ghettoManga.com

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(P)REVIEW: "Did You Mean MARVEL Comics?" by Marcel Vann

If you try to google Marcel Comics, the first thing you'll see is the name of Marcel's new book Did You Mean MARVEL Comics? which is kinda funny all by itself...  But you don't NEED to google Marcel Comics, cause I got all the knowledge for you right here... Yeah, I finally got my hands on Marcel Vann's latest book, and this joint is straight hilarious! Did You Mean MARVEL Comics collects all the Marcel Comics strips from 2009, plus some surprise strips thrown in to keep you honest.

I guess it's only fair to let you know that Marcel is extremely hood. His book is like The Boondocks without Huey! Sure, Syrex, Jet and their friends are streetwise and inquisitive, but not the role models your kids need in their lives or anything. Because this book collects the 09 strips, there are frequent hilarious references to Obama, Palin and McCain, but if you're looking for serious political commentary, check CNN. Marcel concerns himself mainly with making you laugh, and he's good at it. REALLY good!

And if he feels comfortable taking shots at the President (and he does) then you know no one is safe. For me, that's Marcel's appeal. He will do anything, address any subject, embarrass his characters (even though he loves them) just to make you laugh. He has clearly clocked countless hours in front of his teevee and studied comedic timing, and flawlessly translates it to comics. 

The rough, unpolished style of his drawings masks a pretty sophisticated understanding of storytelling. He varies his layouts, so that some strips are three panels, some four, some eight. some are just one panel. But it's always in service of the gag or joke he's preparing to tell. Just so you know Marcel Comics isn't just mocking the youth, Syrex's dad is probably the funniest character in the book. 

In this particular book Marcel really gives everyone their own spotlight, creating some storylines that I didn't notice when reading the book on the web, and taking moments to drop non sequitur strips for comedic value (like the Obama joints or that Thomas Jefferson piece I posted a while back). He leans on racism and sex jokes a lot, but he throws in other stuff for enough variety so it doesn't get boring.

Anyways, I guess it's obvious that I liked Did You Mean MARVEL Comics, a steal at Thirteen bucks for 68 packed pages. To buy it on IndyPlanet, just click here. For all you broke jokers, catch up to Marcel on mySpace and the Facebook.

holla!

samax.

ghettoManga.com

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