Posts Tagged ryan kelly
Cammy’s Favorite Covers for 1/26/11
Uncanny X-Force #4 by Esad Ribic
So I have just been loving these Esad Ribic covers for the past few issues. The man is a genius with the paint brush, and this cover proves it with all this action going on. I especially love how the lights fit beautifully with the darks, highlighting the good, the bad, and the extremely evil. Doesn’t hurt that it’s such a fantastic series too. Esad Ribic needs to do EVERY Marvel cover as far as I’m concerned, because he’s just that good.
The New York Five #1 by Ryan Kelly & Brian Wood
While Ryan Kelly did do covers and illustrations for Wood’s The New York Four series at MINX, it’s nice to see him doing what he does best; creating spectacular images like this one for comics. The mellow yellow highlighted by the dark red / black blend does a magnificent job leading the eye, and the style allows us to see every detail. Add the skyline of New York City in the background, and you’ve got yourself a real winner on your hands. If I worked at Vertigo, I’d recommend to my bosses that this be turned into a poster. I could easily see this hanging-up on my wall.
Detective Comics #873 by Jock
This is a perfect example of why Jock is such a master of his craft. First of all, he draws a damn good Batman; it’s not your Adam West Batman, or your typical Jim Lee looking dark knight. No no no, Jock gives you the gritty goddamn Batman that kicks ass and takes names. And besides the wonderful simplicity of this cover, I especially like the movement we see. When you take a photo of moving lights at night, you get the cool effect of zig-zagging lights. Jock has captured that perfectly, and even added a lens flare for good measure.
Avengers #9 by John Romita Jr.
John Romita Jr. makes me smile every time I see his art work. It’s not a conventional style, and that’s what I enjoy the most about it. It’s simply quirky and unique in it’s own way, and yet it still works in hooking different audiences. This cover immediately catches your attention with all the pretty colors from the dreaded Infinity Gauntlet, and usually if someone in particular is wearing it, there’s a good reason to have the same expression on your face as our heroes do on this cover. Chaotically divine!
Fables #101 by Joao Ruas
Like many of you, I was upset when I heard James Jean was no longer going to be doing covers for Fables. Who could possibly hold a candle to him? Then comes along Joao Ruas and I find myself asking, “James Jean who?” This cover in particular is very breathtaking to look at, and it’s not just because this is my first time tripping on acid and reading comics. The style is so soft that I’m afraid I’m going to break it just by looking at it! And the colors do a wonderful job blending together in certain areas. You don’t have to be a fan of comics to look at this cover and know beauty when it’s right in front of you. It’s covers like this one that have me thankful for Joao Ruas spending some of his time entertaining us mere mortals.
Cammy’s Comic-Con Corner 2010
Posted by Cammy in Cammy's Comic-Con Corner, Special Episode on August 1, 2010
I interview artist Cliff Chiang as we talk about Neil Young’s Greendale, The Brave And The Bold, Star Wars propaganda posters and much more!
I’m joined by artist Ryan Kelly as we discuss Funrama, Brian Wood, different musicians he draws and much more!
I interview artist Pat Loika about Dial R Studios, The Villain, Path To Armageddon and more.
I sit down and interview artist Jason Howard about Sea Bear & Grizzly Shark, Astounding Wolf-Man, Chick-Fil-A and much more!
I interview artist Rafael Albuquerque about Stephen King’s American Vampire, Mondo Urbano and much more!
I interview artist Frazer Irving about Batman and Robin, his rise to fame from 2000AD, The Joker and much more!
I interview artist Ryan Benjamin about Pancratia, Batman Beyond, MMA and more!
I interview Fabio Moon & Gabriel Ba of Daytripper fame. We chat about Daytripper, Dave Stewart, Cassanova and more!
All Archaia interviews! First up, I chat with David Rodriguez & Patrick McEvoy about their Starkweather: Immortal HC, then I sit down with Chandra Free to discuss The God Machine HC.
I interview the creative team of CHEW (Image), John Layman & Rob Guillory! We talk beets, Omnivores, LOST and much more!
I sit down for an intimate chat with Ben Templesmith. We discuss Choker, Squidgirls, religion and much more!
Comic-Con 2010 wrap-up!
Cammy’s Comic Corner – Book Of The Month – LOCAL
Posted by Cammy in Book Of The Month on June 17, 2009
In this special Book Of The Month episode, we focus on the LOCAL hardcover from Oni Press. Written by Brian Wood and art by Ryan Kelly, this truly is a ‘must read’ for comic fans of all colors.
Book Of The Month – June
LOCAL
Written by Brian Wood
Art by Ryan Kelly
I remember when I went through my whole “punk rock oi oi oi!” phase in high school. Rebelling against society by wearing this ridiculous torn-up vest with patches and pins covering every square inch, along with whatever punk band t-shirt I had in the closet. I went to the concerts, hung out with the kids who always got in trouble, played my music really loud, and just didn’t give a flying fuck about the world. Back then, this was my escape from reality. I didn’t have a drivers license, so I couldn’t travel the country like I wanted to and really get out of the whole California mindset. When college happened, all my friends dispersed across the country (and even the world) going on great adventures, and just living life to the fullest while I was back home in San Diego going to classes at the local community college.
What am I getting at, you ask? I’m almost there, not to worry.
What Brian Wood and Ryan Kelly have done with this marvelous collection is bring the outside world to me in 344 beautiful black and white pages spanning across twelve issues. We start out in Portland, Oregon and end in Vermont, hitting many other cities along the way. We follow a young girl named Megan, and watch her slowly grow a year older and a year wiser every issue, as she travels constantly throughout North America.
Even at a young age, Megan was always on the run. Her mom simply allowed it because she wanted her daughter to live life to the fullest and take chances and learn from mistakes. Something she herself might have lost when she hunkered-down and got married. So while Megan appears in every issue, she’s not always the main character. Sometimes she’s just in the background, but easily fits with the setting and story.
- Issue 1 – “Ten Thousand Thoughts Per Second” – Portland, Oregon
- Issue 2 – “Polaroid Boyfriend” – Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Issue 3 – “Theories and Defenses” – Richmond, Virginia
- Issue 4 – “Two Brothers” – Missoula, Montana
- Issue 5 – “The Last 10 Lonely Days at the Oxford Theatre” – Halifax, Nova Scotia
- Issue 6 – “Megan and Gloria, Apartment 5A” – Brooklyn, New York
- Issue 7 – “Hazardous Youth” – Tempe, Arizona
- Issue 8 – “Food as Substitute” – Wicker Park, Chicago
- Issue 9 – “Wish You Were Here” – Norman, Oklahoma
- Issue 10 – “Bar Crawl” – Austin, Texas
- Issue 11 – “The Younger Generation” – Toronto, Ontario
- Issue 12 – “The House That Megan Built” – Vermont
Many of my friends still travel around constantly, so I’ve had the pleasure of nicknaming them such gems as ‘Carmen Sandiego’ and ‘Willy Loman’. While reading Local again after it originally ended last year, the thought occurred to me that these same friends would enjoy this comic. This series shows that comics don’t always have to be about superheroes and capes, but they can actually tell a marvelous and powerful story about a variety of real life topics, including a journey of self-discovery. Light-hearted at times, and very dark in others, this series falls in the catergory of something both comic fans and non-comic fans will enjoy throughout time.
After reading it again for the show, I really felt the urge to just get in a car and drive wherever the road took me, leaving this geeky life of mine behind (for a while, anyways). Then I realized I don’t have the balls for such a spontaneous adventure. Perhaps I’m better off finding that old punk vest of mine and listening to some Misfits and Anti-Flag while rocking the fuck out.
I cannot highly recommend Local enough, and urge you all to go out and try something new, and skip DC and Marvel for just this once.
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