Wishlist - Leviathans

 As you no doubt have concluded, I love independent comics. At any given time (even in a good economy) there's way more comics out there that I want to read than I could ever possibly buy! I've started keeping a "Wishlist" of books that I've seen samples from that I want to buy. My main reason is just to give me an excuse to shine light on comics that look freaking awesome... for example, Here's some preview pages from Razor Apple Studios' urban fantasy, Leviathans which introduces Cherry Nine, who has flipped her status as the world's greatest dragon hunter into making her an international reality television star...

I found this and two other issues (Leviathans #2) and a one shot called Leviathans: Belly of the Beast) on Indyplanet. I found a pretty cool website for Razor Apple Studios, but it doesn't appear to have been updated lately. I'd still love to get a look at these comics, though! If the fine folks at Razor Apple come across this post and decide to slide me copies (or if readers wanna buy 'em for me), I'll be happy to post a review. Either way, I hope this is one indy book that is sleeping, not dead! Click here to cop Leviathans #1 at Indyplanet! You can also click here to peep more Wishlist joints!
holla!
samax.
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PREVIEW: Gorillas Vs. Robots

Yeah, so I'm feeling robophobic today, so it's a good time to pass on a preview of Gorillas VS. Robots in the 23rd Century. I added this book to my wishlist on Indyplanet a while back, but hadn't posted the preview here until now. In addition to supporting my suspicions that apes would not evolve into humans, but into more evolved and intelligent apes, it also encourages a healthy fear of robots.
word...

It's good to know that chivalry has not died. Not saying it's always right, but I liked to see that the male ape has his sista's back. Anyways, if you wanna cop Gorillas VS Robots, just click here!

holla!

-samax.

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PREVIEW: "BKLN BAD"

the Nazi's keep on making it; Brooklyn keep on taking it... or something like that. Yeah, so I've been swelling up my wishlist on IndyPlanet with comics I wanna buy when I grow up... The latest addition in the Bad Potato Studios debut IP offering BKLN BAD, about a 90's era superhero, turned anti-hero, turned inmate... second-generation product of successful Nazi experiments to create super-powered beings, the professional tough guy known as Devilman was so bad that when the government couldn't control him they had to put him in the toughest prison they could find: Brooklyn.

Honestly, it's hard to tell from this preview if the lead character has any redeeming qualities at all, but I'd be willing to give it a try to find out. To order this comic on IndyPlanet, click here.

holla!

-samax.

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Added to the Wishlist: "Scribbles" by Giannis Milonogiannis

 I can't tell you much about Giannis Milonogiannis. I know he draws an awesome webcomic called Old City Blues (I'll get to that later), and that he released this dope 80 page compilation of short comics and sketches called Scribbles last month. I ran into this while trolling around on Indyplanet and put it on my wishlist because I was hooked by his detailed, yet loose and sketchy artwork.  Gorgeous stuff, as you will see in the preview below!
Here's the Sales Pitch:

"SCRIBBLES #1" collects work from 2009 and the first half of 2010. Contains nine short stories and comics experiments, including "The Collector", "Large Mobile Gun Force", "Enuk" and "Oceania-2". 41 pages of comics and 37 pages of illustrations, drawings and sketches of girls, cars, robots and Old City Blues.

Awesome, right? Like I said, you can buy Scribbles on Indyplanet. Just click here. Unfortunately for me, until I land another large gig, it's just a wish... Since finishing Herman Heed, work has been slow, so I gotta curb my already reduced comics buying. We still got internet over here, though, which brings me to Giannis' webcomic Old City Blues...

OCB is a sci-fi police drama that takes place in New Athens, the futuristic- yet- dilapidated urban sprawl that covers what used to be present day Greece. New Athens was built by foreign corporate powers after a natural disaster all but erased Greece from the map. When a series of murders targeting cyborg citizens ends with the death of a power corporate executive, law-enforcement agents from divisions that don't normally get along are forced to work together.

In addition to being a fine storyteller, Giannis is quite a world-builder. He does a fine job of folding together exposition, character development and action to create this fast-paced 95 page story arc about a world where corporation and government are finally the same thing. The story is complete, but definitely opens at the end, welcoming more story arcs where additional development of the characters and the world they inhabits await us.

Since I'm assuming Milonogiannis is greek by his name, I like the fact that he grounds his story in a modernized Greece, leaving the Old City (the only part of the original city of Athens still standing) as a prominent, yet mysterious setting in the story that's appealing on many levels.  In a way, he nods to his cultural history while also destroying it, making way to move into the future. But enough of my rambling... if you wanna give Old City Blues a try, click here. As for my wishlist, if anybody wants to buy me a copy of Scribbles (as well as other stuff I'm putting on the wishlist), get at me! There might be a sketch or poster in it for you...

holla!

-samax.

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GMQ Fall issue available on IndyPlanet!

Word is starting to come back positive from the preorderers and subscribers, so I can confidently report that the Fall issue of  GhettoManga Quarterly doesn't suck! And now you can cop it on IndyPlanet. Here's the Sales Pitch and some preview pages
IN THIS ISSUE: 
*MANCHILD by Samax Amen- In this corner we have a pissed off three-year-old with a thirty eight revolver. In the other corner, we have a cybernetically enhanced retrieval team hellbent on bringing the kid back to... whatever... 
*IF I WAS DICK by Joshua Boulet- Let me just say this: Dick Chaney is SO gangster... you don't even KNOW!!! 
*PYROTECHNIC PORNO BABIES: YETI SPERM by Brock Rizy - no, that's not a typo. There really is a comic in this issue starring the super-short geniuses that the mayor calls to tackle problems too OFFENSIVE for the regular authorities handle! 

We also have a review and an eight page preview of FELIPE SMITH'S groundbreaking culture clash manga PEEPO CHOO in our Right-to-Left section, courtesy of Verticle. All that PLUS Corance's Top 5, BegBorrowSteal, Movies That Should Be Comics, and more!

Dope, right? So anyways, click here to order or subscribe on the blog sidebar.
We don't have any shows planned for the rest of the year, so this is pro'lly the best way to cop this issue, unless You can wait until 2011. Or I guess you can have your comic shop email me at whatever@ghettoManga.com to order one for you. If any more shows are added to the schedule, I'll be sure to let you know!

holla!

samax.

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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.

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PREVIEW: Millennia War Graphic Novel

By the time I found out about Ashley A. Woods' hella tight fantasy epic Millennia War, she had already let it out that she intended to collect the whole series into a trade paperback. In my scouring of the internet looking for info on the subject, I never found one negative comment about Millennia War, other than fans saying they couldn't wait for the next issue! So when I call this 224 page collection long-awaited and highly-anticipated, I know I'm not just tugging your chain. So what is Millenia War all about? peep the Sales Pitch and some preview pages below!

In the past, the Great War ripped the world apart and caused a lot of the races and species to fall into oblivion. The human race was the only one to come out supreme. Now, a thousand years later, a second Great War fueled by revenge is coming - only the humans of this day and age are no where near prepared for what they thought was only myth and legend.

This much anticipated novel is the perfect vehicle for those who have yet to become acquainted with this outstanding series. This 224 page ensemble consists of issues 0 - 6, a special original short story, and a myriad of other surprises. Join in on the mystery and adventure as Hannah and her friends embark on their quest to find and bring her sister, Saya, home, while fighting to prevent the "Second Great War" that threatens their world. Packed with action, themes of friendship, betrayal, and love, "Millennia War" is a story rich with fresh and captivating characters. 

I spoke to Ashley, who said she'd send me a copy to review, but you don't hafta wait on me... you can cop that joint off Indyplanet right now... just click here, fam!

enjoy!

samax.

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