Catan poster

Catan poster

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Another Ides of Blood #2 Review

http://www.lost-man.com/?p=974&cpage=1#comment-400

The War Chicken Cometh

Today, the new kid on the block, DC Entertainment, announced that the old kid on the block, Wildstorm, will be closing.  I am told this will not affect Ides of Blood and we will get to finish our six-issue run.  In the meantime, I scavenged this post from Wildstorm's blog.

Ides of Blood #5 - most metal comic book cover of the year?
Thursday, September 16th, 2010
By Austin Trunick

Please pause a moment, if you will. I want to take a moment and admire just how metal this cover is. Check out the sizes of that axe and hammer. Scope that dude’s beard an pony tail. The vampire lady on the right is just covered in tattoos. I’d put money on that wolf being possessed. In the background a man appears to have been crucified and set on fire. I’m not sure yet why there’s a chicken on a chain, but my guess is that it’s some sort of war chicken and it’s readying for battle.


Friday, September 17, 2010

Hi De Ho Signings

I will be appearing briefly, possibly wearing a cape, at both Hi De Ho Comics locations to sign copies of Ides of Blood and submit myself to the fickle whims of the mob.

Saturday September 25th at 2:00
Hi De Ho Comics
525 Santa Monica Blvd
Santa Monica, CA 90401

And for those residing in the county of Orange...

Saturday October 2nd at 2:00
Hi De Ho Comics
350 Broadway Street
Laguna Beach, CA 92651

Bring the kids!  Make them use their allowance to buy comics!

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Ides of Blood #2 Review

A very nice review from grifter78 below.  Here is a link to the original page: http://www.wildstormaddiction.com/2010/09/ides-of-blood-2/ 

 

“Beware the Ides of March” (No Spoilers)

Writer: Stuart C. Paul
Pencils: Christian Duce
Colors: Carlos Badilla
Letters: Johnny Lowe
Assistant Editor: Kristy Quinn
Editor: Shannon Eric Denton
Cover: Michael Geiger

Stuart C. Paul and Christian Duce deliver another beautiful issue in this intriguing mini-series. Paul’s writing is flawless and Duce’s art continues to be amazing as we get arguably one of the most unique takes on one of the most infamous assassinations in history.



Paul’s skills as a writer shine here as the pacing is excellent. He is able to pack so much story into these issues so far that I really feel like I’m getting my money’s worth reading this comic. In a 32-page comic that only has 22-pages of actual story (standard because of the ads) you feel like you get twice as much story. I’d liken it to what Adam Beechen is doing over in Wildcats.
Don’t think this means Christian Duce is doing nothing but drawing small panels. The layout sizes vary enough to keep it visually interesting; including an awesome full-page shot of Valens and Caesar. There are also some great action pieces especially towards the end where some of the scenes are very superhero-like. Duce is also able to capture the desperation in those final pages as we end with a great cliffhanger.



It’s obvious Paul has done his research as he inserts various ideas surrounding the assassination of Caesar such as the “Ides of March” and omens like the two-headed calf being born. It’s amazing how much mythos has been built around this historical event. It’ll leave you wanting to head to Wikipedia to read up on all the details he’s inserted in the story.

I’m afraid this comic is going to fall under the radar for most people. I know money is tight for a lot of people but if you’ve got that one title you’ve wanted to drop, do it and add Ides of Blood to your pull. It’s only 6 issues and with what we’ve gotten so far, I anticipate that it will be a solid read all the way through. Give it a try if you’ve been on the fence about it. It’s worth the read!

9 out of 10 (Excellent!)

Tales from the Parents' Basement Interview

Here is another interview I did with some sporting fellows at Tales from the Parents' Basement.  They even let me choose the ending song.  After much deliberation, I chose "0" by John Frusciante and Omar Rodriguez-Lopez!

http://talesfromtheparentsbasement.com/?p=528

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Issue 2 out now + Wildstorm Addiction Interview

Ides of Blood #2 hits shelves today.  All your burning questions will get infected and need to be lanced by a doctor of dubious reputation.  Is Ione the Pluto's Kiss Killer?  Will Valens beware the Ides of March?  Will Antony say something misogynistic?  How did Romans heat their homes in the winter? 

The second issue is when we really need your support to keep Ides going strong, so as always, buy Buy BUY!  If a dog gets in your way, kick it into the street.  If a baby blocks your path, shoot it in the face.  If a twitchy-eyed hobo in blackface that smells of Peppermint Schnapps asks you for some change, say, "Go get a job, you chaff of society!  I'm saving my money for Ides of Blood!"  (Be sure and include the italics.  Hobos are confused and terrified by italics.)

Also, those plebian ne'er-do-wells at Wildstorm Addiction have posted a podcast interview I did with them earlier this month.  Click and listen to me wax fooliquent about comics and movies and things.

http://www.wildstormaddiction.com/2010/09/wildstorm-addiction-podcast-episode-14/

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

4,560

Thank you to the estimated 4,560 people who bought Ides of Blood #1 (well, probably more like 4,540 if you subtract my mom and mother-in-law).  I hope you enjoyed it and will pick up issue #2 when it comes out on Wednesday.  If you didn't enjoy it, pick up Issue #2 anyway.  Suffering builds character.

Saturday, September 11, 2010

Dear Robert

This blog post goes out to a very special young man named Robert who was in attendance at last night's 70mm screening of 2001: A Space Odyssey at the Egyptian.  As you can see from my bio at the right, 2001 is one of my favorite films.  The bombastic opening score is probably the greatest opening credit sequence of any film ever.  Its scope is unequaled.  It has the greatest match cut in the history of cinema when the austrilopithicus throws the bone up into the air and it cuts to the space shuttle in the future.  The shot of the pen floating in zero-gravity is one of the simplest and best special effects I've ever seen.  HAL 9000 is one of the most tragic and sympathetic villains ever created for film, and he's nothing but a red lightbulb.  It is an epic expression of evolution as an act of cosmic intercourse.  The entire film is visually magnificent, but anyone who's seen the film knows that Kubrick saved the real mindblowing stuff for the end.  Made in 1968, it should come as no surprise that it has been described as an acid trip.

Unfortunately for everyone in the attendance, a young man named Robert decided to take the comparison literally.  Right after the crazy light show zaps Dave Bowman into the monolith's metaphysical Baroque-style womb, Robert screamed something to effect of, "It's Stanley Kubrick!  Nobody better be sleeping!" 

The audience elicited a few groans of annoyance and confusion.  Perhaps the guy sitting next to Robert had fallen asleep.  2001 is a long, sparse movie.  It's not crazy to think someone had begun to nod off.  But then good old Robert, bless his soul, just wouldn't shut up.  He stood up, raising his arms about as he addressed someone--whether the screen, his fellow audience members or some warped Kubrickian vision of dancing monkeymen, I cannot say--by screaming, "Speak!"  Perhaps this was a commentary on the lack of dialogue taking place Beyond the Infinite in the film's final reel.

Robert was told to sit down, to shut up, to watch the film.  He did none of these things.  More drug-addled ranting ensued.  There were cries of, "You're all just like me!" and "What were we doing before we took drugs?!"  People offered their critique from the sidelines: "Go get a glass of water."  "Calm down, man.  It's almost over." "He's an asshole."  "He's not an asshole; he's just on drugs." 

Soon, the manager arrived, and told Robert in no uncertain terms to vacate the theater.

This appeared to terrify poor Robert.

A physical struggle ensued as the manager and his friends unsuccessfully tried to get Robert out of the theater.  As things began to die down, I went to the bathroom.  When I came out, I saw a dozen LAPD officers charging into the theater.  I ran down along the side to try and get a glimpse of them taking Robert away, but alas, they had already vanished him away by the time I got back to the theater floor.

I'm sure that Robert was quite surprised hours later when he found himself in jail watching youtube videos of his freakout.  I'm sure he is normally a very nice fellow when he's not on drugs.  So Robert, thank you for a memorable filmgoing experience.  Next time you want to drop acid and watch a Kubrick movie, do us all a favor and chain yourself to a radiator in your apartment instead of interrupting one of the greatest movies of all time.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkHeI7qKRPs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TgDCbXv_UY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxViLpD7MGE&feature=related

Epilogue 9/12/10:  I was at the Egyptian again earlier tonight for a screening of Kubrick's disavowed first film, Fear and Desire, when another theatergoer informed me that after dragging him outside, the police tazed out dear Robert a goodly number of times.  Five was the number, and the number was five.  I kind of feel sorry for the poor, electrified bastard.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

My First Podcast

So, for better or worse, my voice has been digitally recorded and placed on the internet by the Pop Culture Network.  In the history of personal firsts, my first podcast ranks somewhere above the excitement of my first cheese omelette and somewhere below my first upside-down rollercoaster.  Sort of on par with my first pony ride. 

Click here to hear what I would sound like as a gay robot version of Comic Book Guy from The Simpsons!!!

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Fangoria Interview

Here is an excerpt from an interview I did with Jorge Solis.  Through the magic of hyperlinks, you can read the full thing on Fangoria's website by clicking here

FANG: With the first issue now on stands, what can readers expect in the upcoming issues?
 
PAUL: Valens has been warned, and in the next issue [out September 15; cover art pictured right], the Ides of March are coming! In addition to lots of intrigue and action unlike anything you have ever seen, we’re going to see the home of the vampire rebellion; go on a Dacian acid trip; learn about the Dracul’s role in the origin of vampires; find out why Valens is so loyal to Caesar; witness an appearance by Van Helsing; find out what Brutus’ master plan is after Caesar is dead; and discover the true identity of the Pluto’s Kiss Killer. We’ll also get vampire STD’s; vampire gladiator cage matches; more Soothsayer bug-eating goodness; crucified bodies used as weapons; insidious Egyptian necromancy; cruelty against animals; swords inserted into various orifices; and yes…vampire cockfighting.

Monday, September 6, 2010

Making Waves

http://www.vampires.com/ides-of-blood informs me that Ides of Blood is "making waves" in the comic world.  I've been doing a lot of research into Japanese history lately, which probably explains why the first thing I thought of in regards to that statement was whether to take it from the point of view of the Japanese or the Mongols.  Way back in the day, Kublai Khan and his Mongol super navy were sailing over to Japan for some good old-fashioned conquering when a kamikaze, meaning divine wind, created a tsunami that sank the Mongol fleet.  A very good turn of events if you're Japanese.  Not so much if you're a Mongol.  [Writer deletes rest of paragraph containing Comic Khan pun lest he is forced to seppuku himself.  Best stop with the whole divine wind analogy before it stretches any thinner.]  Anyway, I'll assume making waves is a good thing.  It's certainly preferable to drowning so quietly that nobody notices.


I also direct you to www.chupacabras.com.  Not for any particular reason other than it exists.

Friday, September 3, 2010

Is Stu a Jew???

So, today my mother called me up.  "Hello, Jewboy!"

This is not how my mom usually starts conversations.  Prior to today, I had always assumed that my hereditary makeup was a solid 50% dirty Pollock, 50% Anglo-Saxon stew.  However, it seems that while doing some geneological research, my mother discovered that her grandparents may have in fact been no common five-and-dime Polish immigrants but in fact Polish Jews.  Whether or not Polish Jews count as real Jews, I cannot say until I consult one of the local rabbis.

Semitic semantics aside, the mere possibility that my blood, DNA and other biological components do indeed contain traces of Eastern European Judaism leftover despite three generations of vigorous Polish-American crossbreeding, certainly makes one think.  Does it all begin to make sense?  Has the missing component that is my self-actualization fallen into place like a dradle-shaped puzzle piece?  Let us examine the evidence for and against my new racial revelation.


EVIDENCE EXHIBIT A
I have been graced with a proud and sturdy nose, the profile of which bears uncanny similarities to Mt. Sinai.

















TEAM JEW 1, TEAM GENTILE 0

EVIDENCE EXHIBIT B
This is my system for keeping financial records.
















TEAM JEW 1, TEAM GENTILE 1


EVIDENCE EXHIBIT C
My wife and I live in a predominately Jewish neighborhood.  Shortly after we moved in, we went to this restaurant called Milk 'n' Honey.  After all, I like milk; I like honey.  What could go wrong?  Little did I know that a Kosher dairy restaurant serves absolutely no meat whatsoever.  I thought I could at least get a Kosher Dodgerdog or something.  Fine, I'm retarded.  Whatever.

I ended up ordering the mushroom burger.  You can imagine my chagrin when my meal arrived and I discovered that my mushroom "burger" contained no meat at all.  It was a hamburger bun with mushrooms inside.  To which I replied, "What is this crap?  This isn't a mushroom burger!  Burgers have meat!  This is a mushroom sandwich, damn you!  I don't care if you're a Kosher dairy restaurant.  If it says burger on the menu, then by gum, I expect some dead animal flesh in my face!"

Epilogue: I did get the restaurant to take the burger off the bill, so one could argue this is a point for Team Jew, but if I was really good, I would have gotten the whole meal for free.

















TEAM JEW 1 1/2, TEAM GENTILE 2

EVIDENCE EXHIBIT D
It doesn't mean what it once did in the days of wandering in the desert for forty years and locking your wife up in a broom closet for menstruating, but I am circumcised.  We'll make this worth half-a-point.
















TEAM JEW 2, TEAM GENTILE 2

So, the score is tied 2-2.  Is Stu a Jew?  It's up to YOU!  Leave a comment to vote and determine whether I'm allowed to tell Holocaust jokes without shame!

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Pimpsauce

Thanks to Austin at Wildstorm for putting some excerpts from various Ides of Blood reviews onto the Wildstorm blog and twitter feed.

http://wildstorm.blog.dccomics.com/2010/08/30/raves-for-ides-of-blood-1/