The Search...

This is stuff I'm looking for. Even if it's not for sale, just knowing where it is would still be a big help!



I was lucky enough to get a sketch from Kyle Hotz at a 1995 con when I was just a kid. I got him to draw Lord Pumpkin. I have always dug things with pumpkins for heads, and have thought it would be cool to own this cover since I was like 14 years old.


Some artists just nail the essence of certain characters. This is THE Scarecrow to me. I love Jason's work, but I liked this before I even knew who he was. (Back then the books didn't list cover art credits much, and his stuff was just signed "Jason" back then.) I'd love to see this up on my wall someday.





The first interior appearance of Carnage. This image was everywhere back in the 90s. If I remember right, it was even featured as a screen of the Maximum Carnage video game. Another top-notch example of comic book evil that burned into my mind back in the 90s.

Super-Wha?

While I wait to see if another blogger I emailed picks up this ball and runs with it, enjoy an excerpt of my email to him.

/----------------------/
I felt like you should see these. Concept art for alternate/evil versions of several DC superheroes, in "high-tech," "road warrior," and "robotic" styles.

"Road Warrior" in this context is basically code for "leather bondage fantasy."

Yes, that means Batman wearing a hockey mask outfitted with knives over a slave collar, all while sporting a wrist crossbow and a loincloth.

These were almost toys.

Judging by the roman numeral date of 1985 and the word "Kenner," - these were almost Super Powers toys.
/----------------------/

Really, you owe it to yourselves to check these out.
http://www.comiclink.com/auctions/item.asp?back=%2Fauctions%2Fpreview.asp%3Fcode%3D2011feb%26itemtype%3D1%26pg%3D2%23Item_876111&id=876111

As the Kids Say.... "OMFG, Epic, FTW" or as I Say - AWESOME.

That's right, after years of me talking about it, the X-Men Arcade Game (which was never ported to any home system) is going to be available as a download title.

This game's art style was based on the Byrne/Zeck/Cockrum-ness of the 1980s Pryde of the X-Men pilot. It was the first game ever (to my knowledge) to have a DOUBLE SCREEN, which meant that it was the videogame equivalent of a double-wide (in a good way), which enabled space for you and 5 OTHER FRIENDS to play the game all at once.

A lot of people might remember it for the bad voice acting/translation, but I remember it as being my favorite way to spend a roll of quarters. This had "80s/90s arcade/pizza place birthday party" written all over it. When you're 10, kicking the crap out of bad guys with 5 other dudes, and by the way - YOU'RE ALL X-MEN - that's seriously about the awesomest thing there is to do.

I was usually Colossus. Nightcrawler as a backup. Wolverine if I was lucky. (Because Storm and Dazzler were girls and Cyclops was Cyclops.)

This is one of those few rare games (like Mike Tyson's Punch-Out) that I can just play, beat, and want to play all over again.

Quite honestly, I'm thinking about taking whatever day this comes out off of work as a personal day. This is just really awesome news for me.

Link to the original article is below
http://destructoid.com/nycc-x-men-arcade-welcomes-you-to-die-on-psn-xbla-soon--186007.phtml

AoA Reference Pics

Madureira/Townsend Reminiscing...

Pages are listed chronologically.

Uncanny X-Men 334, p.19. I especially love the panel with Juggernaut screaming in Jean's face, and the last one where J's removed his helmet. Lots of emotion and vulnerability here. Definitely a strong memory of my comics reading as a kid!

Uncanny X-Men 336, p. 17. There's a lot of nostalgia for me in Onslaught baring Xavier to the heroes (I think they made a toy that re-enacted this?). This was just a great scene, and I love the nice Onslaught headshot to the right, but what really delivers this page for me is Cyclops in the lower-right corner with his gritting pointed teeth. You can't get much more "it's about to go down," than that! (Unless...)


Uncanny X-Men 340, p.17. OK. So you CAN get more "it's about to go down." A super-angry Wolverine about to let loose on some mutant-haters. This is bone claws Wolverine, somewhere between his animalistic/bandana time and being back to normal. That's pretty awesome.

Uncanny X-Men 346, p. 7. In the bottom panel, this is THE image I see in my head when I think of Marrow. Definitely a favorite.

The Omega Question...

Similar Character Design: Bald Bull and Dr. Phil

Maybe it's just because I'd like to punch Dr. Phil in the stomach, but...



I'm just saying.