It was just three years ago that actor Jarod Joseph made his professional debut in the big screen adventure Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief. While his role might not have been an especially big one, the actual experience is one that he vividly remembers to this day. “I’d performed in acting class and appeared in a play...
Books: J. David Spurlock on The Alluring Art of Margaret Brundage: Queen of Pin-Up Art
As the editor and publisher of Vanguard Productions, J. David Spurlock has overseen the release of a multitude of books over the course of his lifetime. Given that his own history is intertwined with those of dozens of past masters and living legends of illustration and comics, it’s little surprise that his imprint’s catalog features the work of such luminaries...
DVD Review: Koala Kid
Here’s a rather curious computer-animated import from South Korea. Originally titled The Outback, the 2012 feature film has been rechristened Koala Kid and is now available on DVD in the U.S. exclusively at Walmart and Sam’s Club. Directed by Kyung Ho Lee (co-director of 2007’s Garfield Gets Real), it’s the story of an all-white koala bear named Johnny who is...
Comics: David Sandoval on The Tribulations of Abaddon
One of the great things about crowdfunding generally, and sites like Kickstarter in particular, is that it creates a level playing field. While long-time fan favorites might appear to have an advantage over the first-time creator, that’s simply not necessarily the case. Everyone enters the system with essentially the same amount of space to state their case and solicit support....
Comics: Elaine Lee and Michael William Kaluta on Starstruck—Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow
Picking right up where we left off last time, Elaine Lee and Michael William Kaluta discuss some of the controversies that surrounded the original release of Starstruck and why they have no real concerns about their work being received in the same way in today’s marketplace. They also share some of their fond memories surrounding the early days of their...
The Allman Brothers Band’s Brothers and Sisters to Receive 40th Anniversary Reissue
Back in the early ’70s, after the devastating loss of both Duane Allman and bassist Berry Oakley to motorcycle accidents, the Allman Brothers Band pushed forward to continue creating the music that they were known and loved for. In 1973, the band released their fourth studio effort, Brothers and Sisters, and achieved even more critical success. The album contained their...
Comics: Elaine Lee and Michael William Kaluta on Their Starstruck Kickstarter
For the past 30-plus years, two of the most original comic creators have crafted a tale quite unlike anything else offered by the medium. This unique, creator-owned project has survived, even thrived, while the magazines and imprints which once hosted it have faded away or vanished overnight. And while it’s true that there have been times when it seemed moribund,...
Chief of Staff: Interview with Mr. Selfridge’s Tom Goodman-Hill
Any good businessperson will tell you that one of the keys to success is making sure to surround yourself with the most loyal, trusted and hardest working team of people possible. Such is the case in the British drama Mr. Selfridge, currently airing Sunday nights in the States on PBS’s MASTERPIECE Classic. When American entrepreneur Harry Gordon Selfridge crosses the...
Comics: Travis Hanson on Adventures for a Lazy Afternoon and The Bean
One of the best parts of working in the arts, generally—and of the comics industry, in particular—is that you get to meet some truly amazing and inspiring people through your mutual friends and acquaintances. I’ve been introduced to any number of creators and fellow travelers by friends over the past 15 years, both in person and, increasingly, via social networks....
Bentley’s Bandstand: Dawes, Son of Rogues Gallery, Steve Forbert
Dawes, Stories Don’t End. Stealthlike, Dawes has become the new American band possessed by true greatness. The Southern Californians have two previous albums which pointed this way, but on Stories Don’t End they’ve headed off on a striking path to putting their names in the history books and inspiring gererations of music fans for a very long time. Dawes have...