Posts Tagged rafael albuquerque
Cammy’s Favorite Covers for 4/11/12
Dark Matter #4 by Garry Brown
An explosive start to the covers this week! Garry Brown (as usual) blows my eyeballs away with another action-packed cover for Dark Matter. His covers remind me of the big blockbuster Sci-Fi movies that Hollywood loves cranking out, only if this were an actual movie poster, I’d be buying tickets to the midnight showing in a heartbeat. I love the jagged blasts from the guns, as the commandos are engulfed in flames all around. Add the destroyed spaceship above the title and this cover just kills it!
The Unwritten #36 by Yuko Shimizu
Donnie Darko; the later years.
Alabaster Wolves #1 by Greg Ruth
Maybe it’s just because I’m in the current mindset, but The Hunger Games slightly comes to mind when viewing this cover. I say this only because the gal with the knife reminds me a little of Katniss, and this four-headed specter is just another one of the game pieces in play at the arena. Seriously though, this cover is intense and intriguing, all rolled into one. I love the details in the long and tangled black hair, and the talon-like claws are just downright freaky. Even if I didn’t already see Steve Lieber’s name on the title, I would definitely would have picked it up based on the cover alone. Beautiful stuff!
Resurrection Man #8 by Rafael Albuquerque
Looks like Resurrection Man is The Flash all of a sudden, trying to outrun death. As awesome as this cover is, it just still kinda freaks me out a little seeing Albuquerque doing covers for other series outside of American Vampire. It almost feels like I caught him cheating on Scott Snyder, and this bastard is the result of him fooling around with other series. On a more serious note though, I love the different layers presented to us on this cover; map, death, and an active trail. The washes are gorgeous, and Rafael shows us once again why he is the master of his craft.
Lobster Johnson: The Burning Hand #4 Variant by Mike Mignola
As much as I marvel at the beauty of this cover, it upsets me a little at the same time. It upsets me in the sense that while Lobster Johnson is my favorite Mignola-verse character, I’ll never get a series starring him illustrated front-to-back by Mike Mignola. I remember the good old days (as many of us do) when it was Mignola writing and illustrating, with coloring by Dave Stewart. I understand that he’s a busy dude with the writing nowadays, but this cover just makes me long for that Mignola style on another Lobster Johnson miniseries. While I go cry in the corner, take a few minutes to take-in the essence of this cover, and then come join me. I’ll have the Kleenex ready.
Cammy’s Favorite Covers for 2/29/12
Hack/Slash #13 Cover B by Ben Templesmith
Ben Templesmith’s art and Hack/Slash seemed like such an obvious pairing to me. However, after a little research it seems this is the first time that Templesmith has provided any illustrations to Seeley & the series. What was the frickin’ hold-up?! Cassie embodies the creepy-yet-total-badass combination wonderfully, with the blood on her signature bat a very nice touch. The looming villain with the wall filled with hanging torture tools is the cherry on top, with the perfect use of lighting and colors. If I may be so bold, I demand more Templesmith & Seeley collaborations! It just feels so right.
Spaceman #4 by Dave Johnson
There are so many wonderful techniques the Reverend Dave Johnson uses on this cover. And because he’s a genuine master of his craft, it makes it that much easier to proclaim it as my favorite cover of the week, hands-down. The color scheme of orange and gray, with the mixture of cold and warm colors dominating the majority of the cover make the white bones pop-out that much more effectively and really draws you in to it’s design and beauty as a whole. Such a cool idea with the bones on the arms in crossbones formation, that it makes me wonder when will that tattoo idea catch on with the young folk. “You call that a sleeve? THIS, is a…radical radius?” I want this as a poster, I want this as a print, I want this on the hood of my car. It’s badass, it demands your attention, and it’s the reason you should be submitting your body and soul to the Reverend’s gospel on a daily basis.
T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #4 by Rafael Albuquerque
Goddamn is this an awesome looking cover. To me, this is what DC’s Ultimate rendition of the Flash would look like; a red-hot crimson blur, angry at the world, looking like he could explode at any moment. I’ve always been a fan of Albuquerque’s wicked style, but this cover in particular feels like he’s taking his game to a whole other level! This is what Hermes would look like if he was appointed one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse; streaking down his message of destruction to our world. The last message we would ever hear before total annihilation.
Star Trek #6 by Tim Bradstreet
“The creature within me is gone. I am free of it, and the pain. I am also quite blind. An equitable trade, Doctor. Thank you.” -Spock in The Immunity Syndrome
The Unwritten #34.5 by Yuko Shimizu
Angelic. Purely whimsical and magical, radiating artistic beauty across the entire comic book medium. The fine details in her curly golden locks and hundreds of feathers just leaves me breathless, completely soaking everything in. I saw her face, now I’m a believer. The minute Shimizu opens a gallery anywhere in the world, I’ll be the first one in line to purchase a ticket. Perhaps one day, I’ll even be fortunate enough to own an original piece. Until that time however, we can all continue to glimpse at in awe, cursing the heavens that none of us will ever produce anything remotely close to perfection like Shimizu does.
Cammy’s Comic Corner – Episode 200 (2/26/12)
Posted by Cammy in Weekly Reviews on February 26, 2012
Episode 200! Damn it feels good to be a gangsta! The Pick Of The Week for this momentous episode goes to John Layman & Rob Guillory for CHEW #24 (Image)! Fast Five picks include American Vampire #24 (Vertigo), Wolverine & The X-Men #6 (Marvel), Prophet #22 (Image), All-Star Western #6 (DC), and Fantastic Four #603 (Marvel). Spoilers!
Big thanks to all the fans and creators for 200 amazing episodes! I feel like the prettiest belle at the ball!
Cammy’s Comic Corner – Episode 196 (1/29/12)
Posted by Cammy in Weekly Reviews on January 29, 2012
In this intoxicating episode we have no Pick Of The Week, however we do have a Fast Five selection. Picks include All-Star Western #5 (DC), B.P.R.D.: Hell On Earth – Russia #5 (Dark Horse), American Vampire #23 (Vertigo), Fantastic Four #602 (Marvel), and The Walking Dead #93 (Image). Spoilers!
Cammy’s Comic Corner Presents: The Cammys – Nominees
Posted by Cammy in Special Episode on January 1, 2012
The First Annual Prestigious Cammy Awards! I give you the nominees in the following categories: Best Writer, Best Artist, Best Cover Artist, Best Series, Best Miniseries, Best Single Issue, and Best Graphic Novel.
Tune in January 4th, 2012 for the results!
Cammy’s Favorite Covers for 12/28/11
American Vampire #22 by Rafael Albuquerque
Eeeyyy! Grease Lightning, go Grease Lightnin’! So as the cover suggests, we now find our vampires in another decade (yet again). The stylings of a vampire greaser is oddly appealing-yet-fitting to me, and the typography is the cherry on top. I enjoy this series immensely, and I’m not worrying about it jumping the shark in this arc (That was a Fonzi reference, kiddos)! Really enjoyed the stylized simplicity that Rafael put into the cover.
Captain America & Bucky #625 by Francesco Francavilla
If you don’t follow Francesco on Twitter, you really should; every day he posts something new that he’s working on, and the result is always gorgeous. It’s like unwrapping a new present every day, and you still smile every single time. I remember a while back seeing some Captain America action interiors done by him and I was overjoyed. Then I see this cover, and my eyeballs instantly eyegasmed. Everything you need to know about this issue is presented to you on the cover; HYDRA, WW2, and Cap & Bucky. This I can definitely see as the cover they use on the eventual collection.
Haunt #20 by Nathan Fox
Not only is the direction for the series fresh, but the covers by Fox have grown by leaps and bounds as well. I’m instantly hooked by the bizarre array on the cover, and for those who know me, I’m always a sucker for blood-splatter and vibrant neon colors. It’s almost like looking at a 3D acid trip, slowly becoming immersed in this twisted and strange new world. Bottom-line is this; Nathan Fox really brings it with this cover.
The Mice Templar Volume III #6 by Michael Avon Oeming
Did I mention that I’m also a major sucker for watercolors? Because I totally am. Not just well done watercolors, but the combination of inks being incorporated in the flow of the image as well. Very excellent use of the colors on Oeming’s part, and the reds especially hit you with that good creepy feeling. Of mice and men for sure!
The Flash #4 by Francis Manapul
As usual, Barry Allen is the center of the universe. Apparently giving him his own title didn’t inflate his ego enough, so let’s just crank it up to 11 and make him the center of attention as well! Even the text seems drawn to his animal magnetism! I really enjoyed a lot of the white backgrounds this week, especially when there was tons of well-placed colors balancing the image as a whole at the same time. This cover looks great, and really does encapsulate the Flash as a character who is constantly in motion.
The Unwritten #32.5 by Yuko Shimizu
This is my favorite cover of the week, hands down. Everyone else can go home, because Shimizu came, saw, and completely conquered the competition this week. How could you not want this framed on your wall? Shimizu puts such excruciating detail in her covers, that you can’t help but kneel before her greatness. I don’t want this just as a poster, I want it as a t-shirt and a way of life as well. Absolute eye-candy!
Cammy’s Comic Corner – Episode 173 (7/3/11)
Posted by Cammy in Weekly Reviews on July 3, 2011
What a great week it was for comics! Pick Of The Week goes to Grant Morrison & Chris Burnham for Batman Incorporated #7 (DC)! Fast Five picks include American Vampire #16 (Vertigo), Witch Doctor #1 (Image), Avengers: The Children’s Crusade #6 (Marvel), Scalped #50 (Vertigo), and The Goon #34 (Dark Horse).
Cammy’s Favorite Covers for 4/27/11
The Strange Case of Mr. Hyde #1 by M.S. Corley & Jim Campbell
Instantly my eyes wrap themselves around every curve and contour, as if trying to solve a non-existent maze. I love the multiple beakers intertwining with the smoky concoction Mr. Hyde holds in his hands. The earthy tones do a wonderful job of giving this cover that classic old-timey feel, and from what we do know from old-timey horror movies, drinking whatever potion you yourself brewed is always a good idea. M.S. Corley really knocked this cover out of the park, and I can totally see this as a poster in a punk-rock scientists bedroom.
Venom #2 by Tony Moore & John Rauch after Todd McFarlane
A very fitting homage to McFarlane first of all, and secondly, how much of a badass does Flash look like in this pose?! Swinging into action, assault rife firing backwards without a care it seems; all of it really grabs your attention by the balls and yanks you forward to pick this comic off the shelf. And that’s what covers are suppose to do, right? Give you a little taste of the honey, hoping you then want the whole beehive! The details in the web excite me (yet I don’t know why), and the red circle in the background helps highlight all the black and white features on the costume. I’m no expert, but I think it’s awfully careless to just fire an automatic weapon willy-nilly. What if some pigeons were perched on that ‘V’?! Very uncool, Venom. Didn’t you watch Bowling For Columbine?!
American Vampire #14 by Rafael Albuquerque
Rafael Albuquerque is on notice for being too disgustingly talented for his own damn good. The man just oozes creativity and unity from every pore of his body, and transforms a blank piece of paper into a thing of beauty. I’m always a fan of the rising sun in imagery, but this takes it to the next level. So much energy and intensity on this cover, that instantly you’re aware of the situation; it’s taking place in Japan, it’s World War II, and the soldier pointing his gun at you is a vampire. The washes Rafael uses in this cover are beyond stunning, and the colors balance out the image perfectly. Muddled, action-packed, and just plain pretty to look at. This is a poster I want hanging on my wall.
Scalped #48 by Jock
The first thing that comes to my mind when seeing this cover is that old song Kiss of the Spider Woman by Kander & Ebb. Some out of focus individual can be seen in the background, with a simple, yet beautiful imagery of the spiderweb in the foreground. Yet, why is the web incomplete? Is it symbolizing something deeper about unfinished tasks in this issue? Did something break the web? Perhaps I’m reading into too much, but it doesn’t matter; Jock is once again killing it on these covers, proving time and time again he’s like the Wu-Tang Clan; he ain’t nothin’ to fuck with!
Turok: Son of Stone #2 by Raymond Swanland
So while I don’t read this series, that doesn’t take away from me loving these covers. Swanland’s painted style really fits the content well, giving it that needed feeling of intensity conveyed to the reader. Turok is in trouble, and only his girlfriend and his trusty bow are in the way of him becoming velociraptor chow in these next few seconds. Chaos happening on all layers of the image give it that great sense of an epic battle taking place, and only a few will be surviving to tell the tale. Great image, through and through.
Justice League: Generation Lost #24 by Dustin Nguyen
A fitting cover to an explosive ending! Featured; the entire Justice League International team finally going toe-to-toe with Max Lord, the one man they’ve be after for the past 24 issues. This exquisitely done image tells the viewer all that and more. Great use of psychic-rings blasting forth from Max, trying to hold his own against our heroes. Nguyen’s style in particular is just very clean, a bit muddled in all the right places, and just rendered wonderfully. I’m not sure if it’s watercolors or what, but it certainly does delivery justice to this cover. I can see this being the cover to the last trade paperback or hardcover. Either, really.
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