Wishlist- "Our Love is Real" by Sam Humphries & Steven Sanders #WTF

I saw a preview poster for writer Sam Humphries (CBGB; Fraggle Rock) and artist Steven Sanders' (Uncanny X-Men: The Heroic Age, SWORD; Five Fists of Science) new self-published comic Our Love is Real and I have to admit, I'm curious where they're going with it! I gaffled a 6 page preview and  posted it with some of my patented blah blah below...

Here's the sales pitch:

FIVE YEARS AFTER THE AIDS VACCINE...Plantsexuals riot in the streets for equal rights. Humans fall in love with dogs. And crystals are more than just jewelry. A chance encounter on the job changes a riot cop's life forever as he finds himself caught in a bizarre love triangle that blurs romance, crime, and lust beyond recognition.

OUR LOVE IS REAL is a bold new sci-fi one-shot written by Sam Humphries (one of Wizard's "Five Writers to Watch in 2011"; CBGB; Fraggle Rock) and illustrated by Steven Sanders (Uncanny X-Men: The Heroic Age; SWORD; Five Fists of Science).

Marriage equality is a real hot-button topic right now, so what better way to tackle it than making an exquisitely drawn comic farce that turns the whole debate on its ear. At least that's what I'm hoping for! Of course, it's possible that it's just gonna be just some well-drawn preaching. But I don't think so...

But I'm just guessing. OLIR went on sale today. You can buy it on the website as a digital download or a physical copy. You can also buy it in stores in selected cities. Click here for more info. I can imagine this post might insight spirited political dialogue, and while that's totally not my intent, I can live with it...

holla!

-samax.

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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- Old City Blues by Giannis Milonogiannis

 I was really pleased to hear that Giannis Milonogiannis' awesome manga-ish webcomic Old City Blues is being published in graphic novel format by Archaia!

Here's the Sales Pitch:
The year is 2048. Southeastern Europe. Built on the ruins of the country once known as Greece, New Athens is a city crawling with life—low-life, that is. From mech smugglers and drug dealers, to corrupt politicians and all-too-powerful corporations, the city is at the mercy of high-tech criminals. And it’s up to Solano, Thermidor, and the rest of the New Athens Special Police to keep the city in order. When the cybernetically augmented founder of a tech corporation called Hayashi is found murdered, it seems to be just another case of cyborg persecution. But Hayashi Corporation’s strange response to the incident raises suspicion in Solano and the Special Police. The mystery they unravel will lead them straight into the wasteland of the Old City.

I can't wait to get my hands on this baby! I still intend to buy his sketchbook Scribbles that he dropped in 2010 too. I just started a new job last week, so I should actually be able to start buying more comics again! I can hardly contain my excitement...

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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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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Charlie Goubile's BLACKBIRD graphic novel is OUT NOW!!!

If you've been reading GhettoManga very long, you already know I straight cheerleads for Charlie "Fab" Goubile, and especially for his martial arts vigilante comic Blackbird.  Now Goubile has collected his first miniseries into the brand new trade paperback Blackbird:Growing Pains, and it looks really dope!

In case you're new here, Blackbird is the story of Antwon Jenkins. When Antwon loses the only family member he has ever known to the streets, he is moved to bring justice to the city by becoming the crime fighting avenger Blackbird. With the support of his new family and friends Antwon struggles to rid the streets of crime and corruption, as well as deal with trials of being a young adult.

For those who already own the original comics, Goubile includes lots of extras to sweeten the pot: Production sketches and designs, cover and promo art, guest pinups from a who's who of underground artists (Mshindo, Ashley A. Woods, John Jennings, Shawn Alleyne, Stanley Weaver, M. Rasheed and Kanji), and intro from Brotherman creator Dawud Anyabwile. PLUS, Fab is dropping a preview to Blackbird 2: Street Wars including 10 story pages, promo art and character designs... anyways, to order Growing Pains on IndyPlanet, click here. Or go here to read more of my posts about Charlie "Fab" and Blackbird. 

holla!
-samax
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