Top 10 Movies of 2009

It's that time of year and that means my favorite movies list for 2009. Admittedly there were a few flicks I just never got out to see (I Sell the Dead, Drag Me to Hell, Boondock Saints II, The Road, Avatar) so this list could potentially change a bit as I catch up, but this will do for now.

10. Friday the 13th
Jason Vorhees is back, kids. This "relaunch" of the Friday franchise really does sit well with the rest of the films. I felt it captured the tone of the originals, never felt too flashy, and never pretended to be anything more than what it was: a good ol' fashioned slasher flick.

9. Star Trek
I've never been a hardcore J.J. Abrahams fan. I dig Lost but never really got into anything else he's done. And I've never been a Star Trek fan either (I know, geek blasphemy). But this action-packed and fun but still pretty smart flick sucked me right in. It was a breath of fresh air after a relatively disappointing start to my summer (I saw Wolverine and Terminator: Salvation before catching this.)

8. Where the Wild Things Are
I always loved the Where the Wild Things Are book as a kid. I think for a lot of us it was our first introduction to monsters. There was something about this film that just seemed like reliving childhood. I spent the running time grinning from ear to ear. Everything just fit together perfectly from the creatures by Jim Henson's shop, to the voice acting, to the soundtrack by Yeah Yeah Yeahs front-woman, Karen O.

7. Zombieland
Zombieland can be described as many things but the most accurate would be "cute." I know that sounds weird for a horror-comedy. While Zombieland never really delivers any scares the laughs come at a rapid-fire pace. And Woody Harrelson is more than content to steal the show as Tallahassee. This is definitely a zombie-romp worth seeking out.

6. Transformers: Rise of the Fallen
I am, and have always been, an action junky. Every once in a while I love to turn my brain off and watch giant robots beat the shit out of each other. And Transformers delivers that in spades. It's truly a beautiful film to watch and was even better on IMAX. The clincher for me was the fight scene between Optimus Prime, Megatron, Starscream and some other Decepticon in the forest. Just sheer bad-assery on the screen.

5. Trick 'r Treat
Trick 'r Treat had more problems getting released than any movie has any right to endure. But finally after two years of delays it finally came out on DVD. And goddamn am I glad it did. This one of those movies that no description I could give would do it justice beyond to say that Trick 'r Treat is a modern fucking horror classic. An anthology style film in the vein of Tales from the Crypt or Creepshow, Trick 'r Treat blends horror, a dark demented sense of humor, and Halloween into a piece of cinematic mastery. You'd be doing yourself a disservice by not checking this out.

4. Coraline
It's no secret that I'm a fan of stop-motion films. I've always been a fan of films like The Nightmare Before Christmas, James & the Giant Peach, and The Corpse Bride. So, it should be no surprise that I absolutely adored Coraline. Henry Selleck (who directed two out of the three aforementioned films) is a master of stop-motion. Aided by a story written by the ever-amazing Neil Gaiman, Coraline shines in every way imaginable. It's truly a masterpiece.

3. Sherlock Holmes
This is the kind of flick that I thought Hollywood had forgot how to make. A smart, action-packed, period piece with a great cast! Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Mark Strong, and Eddie Marsan all shine in their respective roles. Downey steals the show, of course, but the rest of the cast is all but brilliant. You will not regret checking this out.

2. Inglourious Basterds
Quentin Tarantino is back! After the disaster that was Deathproof (which I really wanted to like, I did), he returns to form with Inglourious Basterds, his World War II epic. The cast is fantastic, the dialogue sharp, and the violence brutal. Everything you would expect from a Tarantino flick. Brad Pitt, of course, stands out as Aldo "The Apache" with his hilarious southern accent but the rest of the cast is brilliant, even Eli Roth (who I loathe as a director) as "The Bear Jew" is awesome.

1. Watchmen
Alan Moore & Dave Gibbon's comic masterpiece is a complete and utter success as a piece of cinema. Admittedly, Watchmen isn't for everyone, but it doesn't make it any less an amazing film. The cast is spot on (with the exception of Matthew Goode as Adrian Veidt, who just didn't fit the role physically). The director's cut filled in a couple of the things that I thought were missing from the theatrical version of the film. Every detail is painstakingly re-created just take a look around the Comedian's apartment during the opening fight sequence. Some super-fans will balk at the changed ending but this is an adaptation and there will always be changes in adaptations. In short, Watchmen is a triumph and the best version of the film we possibly could have gotten.

Interviewing Joe Matt & ZIC on Fear Zone!

Hey folks!

I've been taking over the interwebs lately, it seems. First, I was a featured co-host on Tom Water's Big Words I Know By Heart Radio Hour where he, Don (owner of Don's Atomic Comics), and I interviewed the ever-amazing Joe Matt of Peepshow fame! You can listen to that HERE or subscribe via iTunes!


On top of that, director/author/ZIC-friend Greg Lamberson wrote a really wonderful article about Zombie Ink Comics, The Red Eye, and me on the horror website Fear Zone! You can read that: HERE!

Both are available in the Press section of the Zombie Worx site if you don't feel like having to scour the blog for them.

Let's Party 'Til the Dead Come Home!

For three years Zombie Ink Comics has been bringing you the finest in underground pulp comics. To celebrate, we're going to party 'til the dead come home at Club Diablo with drinks, tunes, and comics!

So come on out to the ZOMBIE INK COMICS 3-YEAR ANNIVERSARY PARTY OF DOOM!

THURSDAY DECEMBER 10, 2009
CLUB DIABLO
517 WASHINGTON STREET
BUFFALO, NY 14203
8PM - MIDNIGHT
$5.00

Featuring the sounds of ARMCANNON and OLD RADIO!

We'll also have lots of goodies for sale including
Pulp #1 - 3 ($4.00 each or all 3 for $10.00)
Zombie Ink Comics posters ($3.00)
Zombie Worx t-shirts ($8.00)
Exclusive Red Eye posters (Limited print run) ($10.00)

And for the first time EVER we'll be selling original pages and covers from Zombie Ink Comics titles as old as Silent Boy versus Hell!!!
Pages ($50)
Covers ($100)

So please come out and join us for an amazing night!

- K.

Macabre Movies

Hey guys,
It's that time of year again when ghosts and ghouls are on everyone's minds. Granted, they're on mine all year round, but I thought this would be a good a time as ever to share my top ten horror flicks. They might not be the scariest flicks ever but they all hold a special place in my heart. I'll start from the bottom and work my way up.



10. SAW
I know a lot of folks can't dig on these movies but I've been a fan since day one and the first is entirely responsible for that. It was smart, had some great jumps (c'mon when the pig-head wearing villain jumped outta the pitch-black closet you almost shit yourself, admit it) and wasn't afraid of some good old fashioned gore. And if you claim to have guessed who the killer is you are so full of it.

9. THE SHINING
I am not a Stephen King fan (I know, blasphemy) but, man, the Shining is some scary shit. This is the ultimate haunted house movie. Ghosts, elevators full of blood, naked ghouls, those creepy twins, and a fucking psychotic Jack Nicholson all haunt this classic. Throw in the fact that it was beautifully directed by Kubrick and well it's damn near perfect.

8. THE THING
This is one of two John Carpenter movies that ended up on this list. Carpenter at his finest, really knows how to play up atmosphere and the sense of isolation he creates here is perfect. The scene where Kurt Russell is burning the blood samples still makes me jump out of my goddamn skin, nevermind the freaky-as-all-hell creature transformations and the sense of paranoia of not knowing who the creature is totally fucks with you.

7. CREEPSHOW
This horror anthology does everything right. It's got horrific monsters devouring people, alien moss, vengeful ghouls back from the grave, what else could one ask for? Another project that Stephen King worked on that I actually enjoyed and directed by the ever-amazing George Romero. This film is like a Tales from the Crypt comic come to life!

6. FRIGHT NIGHT
There are some cool vampire movies out there, but this one takes the cake for me. Chris Sarandon is fantastic as the vampire and Roddy McDowell as late-night B-Horror host Peter Vincent was just tremendous. Fright Night had some great creature effects, dark humor, and still managed to create a solid amount of scares like any good horror flick should! "You're so cool, Brewster!"

5. FRANKENSTEIN (1931)
James Wales' Frankenstein is hands-down my favorite of the old Universal horro flicks. Nothing, and I mean, nothing beats the reveal of Boris Karloff as the monster! Combine that with Wales' expressionistic approach to shadow and this movie has style for miles that makes it standout amongst its kin! Karloff's performance as the monster remains eerie to this day and yet we can sympathize with him in his search for answers. I love me some tragic monsters.

4. DAWN OF THE DEAD (1978)
This is easily George Romero's crowning achievement and is often considered the greatest zombie film ever. Romero combines scathing commentary with building terror and straight-up graphic gore for the total horror package. There are so many great parts to this movie that I can't even begin to pick one. Romero is terrific at writing characters that you actually care about and that are never, ever, safe!

3. EVIL DEAD II: DEAD BY DAWN
Sam Raimi may be a Hollywood big-shot now, but back in the day he all but created horror comedy. With it's seamless blend of slap-stick humor, huge jumps, gallons of gore, and the ultimate chainsaw-weilding horror hero, there is nothing to dislike about this flick. As good ol' Ash would say, "Groovy!"

2. A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET
Hey, remember when Wes Craven was actually interested in freaking us out? Nightmare introduced us to dream-demon Freddy Kruger: a child-molester/murderer who was burned to death by the parents of Springwood only to return to take revenge on their surviving children! The imaginative dream sequeneces and kills in this movie really stand out when we're used to seeing some dude in some sorta mask just chasing around teens with a knife. Plus it has Johnny Depp, don't you like Johnny Depp?

1. HALLOWEEN (1978)
John Carptener's classic slasher that started it all is still scary as fuck. The suspense and sense of dread Carpenter creates in this nearly bloodless flick make the movie. Combine it with a break-out performance by Jamie Lee Curtis as the ultimate scream-queen, Hollywood's scariest slasher Michael Myers, and that scary as hell soundtrack and you have the perfect horror film. And to top it all off, it's set on Halloween! C'mon, it doesn't get any scarier than that!

I wanted to throw in a couple of my honorable mentions because I love 'em so.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974), Nosferatu (1922), House of Wax (1953), Trick 'r Treat, The Exorcist, Alien, Hellraiser II, The Silence of the Lambs, Brain Dead (aka Dead Alive)

Have a Happy Halloween!

- K.

Favorite Comics

Hey guys,
I did that piece a while back regarding my favorite web comics (which I'll be doing a sequel to in the near future) but I never did my favorite straight-up comics. So, well, here's that list. This is by no means everything I read but it's definitely a good start.

Hellboy:
by Mike Mignola, Duncan Fedgredo, Richard Corben, & others

Hellboy is hands-down my favorite and is the comic that got be back into the funny books when I was in college. Mignola has created a massive world and his art work never disappoints. Even when the book's art is in the hands of Richard Corben or Duncan Fegredo, it's still freaking fantastic looking. How can you not love a cigar-chomping bad-ass demon from Hell who talks like a 1920's noir detective that fights Lovecraftian horrors, vampires, and other things that go bump in the night? I'm also in love with the spin-offs B.P.R.D. and Lobster Johnson which just expand Hellboy's universe even more! But at the end of the day, ol' H.B. is still king! The first volume: Seed of Destruction is one of those trades that I've read so many times that it is literally falling apart.

The Goon:
by Eric Powell & others

The Goond comes from a special place in comic-book heaven where zombies, werewolves, vampires, and other things that would normally give us nightmares get a proper ass-whooping by a gorilla-looking son of a bitch and his little freakish peanut-headed side-kick! The Goon feels like a love-letter to pulp horror with a huge dash of comedy! I don't think any other comic makes me laugh out loud as frequently as The Goon. And to top it off Powell is one of those artists that just keeps getting better and better as the series goes on.

Fear Agent
by Rick Remender, Tony Moore, Jerome Opena, & others

Man, I found out about Fear Agent back when it was still being put out by Image and the first volume had just come out in trade paperback and it was love at first sight. I was already a big fan of Tony Moore thanks to his short run on The Walking Dead but Fear Agent sealed the fuggin' deal for me. Awesome 1950's style Sci-Fi with robots and aliens and UFO's and a hero with more flaws than admirable qualities. I immediately fell in love with Heath Huston who is one a bad-ass sonofabitch but still extremely human. You can't help but sympathize with the guy and feel like you could have ended up in his shoes too... if you hadn't been annihilated by the invading aliens that is. Fear Agent is as good as you remember the old E.C. comics being. If that doesn't get you to check this out... well... then nothing will.

The Walking Dead
by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, & Charlie Adlard

The Walking Dead is the quintessential zombie comic. (And you folks know how much I zombies.) It's epic, horrifying, and depressing as hell. The fact that the comic is colored in grey-scale only adds to the somber tone of the book. In The Walking Dead nobody is safe. And I mean NOBODY and that makes for some serious drama because this comic isn't about the zombies as much as it is about the people. And that's what separates it from all the zombie comics out there. On the art end while I do miss Tony Moore's initial run on the series, I really feel that Charlie Adlard has come into his own on this book and really produced some amazing stuff!

Watchmen
by Alan Moore & Dave Gibbons

Watchmen is, well, Watchmen. It's easily my favorite limited-run series ever. The epic and earth-shattering tale alone make this work a read. It's one of those stories that can really make you question your definitions of good and evil and how far you'd be willing to go to save the world. Throw in characters that are genuinely complex and fleshed then top it off with Dave Gibbons amazing artwork and you have a freaking comic masterpiece.

Batman: The Long Halloween
by Jeph Loeb & Tim Sale

The Long Halloween is set after Frank Miller's Year One and is a brilliant continuation of that version of Gotham. Gotham has become a haven for freaks who are trying to wrest control of the city away from Carmine Falcone and his gangsters, and if that wasn't enough to keep Batman, Jim Gordon, and Harvey Dent busy, a serial killer called Holiday has begun marking their calendar with murders of Gotham's organized crime families. The Long Halloween plays out like a brilliant murder mystery and you'll never guess the end! And don't forget to throw in that it covers the origins of one of the great super-villains ever: Two-Face! This is easily my favorite Batman book.

Sin City
by Frank Miller

Man, if you love pulp noir stories (and Lord know, I do) nobody has done them better than Frank Miller. Beautiful women, tough-as-nails guys, evil villains, and some of the most hard-boiled brutal stories put into funny-books. Miller's stark black and white pages with splashes of color accentuate the old-school noir tone of the books.

30 Days of Night
by Steve Niles & Ben Templesmith

If The Walking Dead is the quintessential zombie comic then 30 Days of Night is the quintessential vampire comic. A feral and terrifying re-imagining of
everyone's favorite night-stalkers set in the Alaskan town of Barrow, 30 Days of Night makes vampires scary again. These aren't your suave, well-dressed vampires, these things are true monsters made all the scarier by Templesmith's stylized art-style.

The Dylan Dog Case Files
by Tiziano Sclavi & others

Dylan Dog combines horror, humor, and great weird tales! The art work while handled by 3 or 4 different artists still maintains a consistent quality throughout that always impresses. Sclavi's tales are strange, scary, and brilliant. A must-read for any comic fan!

Tales from the Crypt
by Al Feldstein, Bill Gaines, Wally Wood, Jack Kamen, & others

People talk about knowing your roots and this is it for me. Horror comics at their original state. Undead monsters come back from the grave for revenge, vampires, psychos, serial killers, it's all here! These guys were truly comic pioneers who refused to fall into line when the Comics Code was put into action. Unfortunately, it was also the cause of their death. But Tales from the Crypt and all the old E.C. New Trend books pioneered modern comics. Without these guys we'd all be reading Marvel and DC 24/7.

Nothing Ordinary About All Things Ordinary

Hey guys,

So my good friend Derek Neuland created this amazing zine a couple months ago called All Things Ordinary. He asked me to use some drawings I had done of our mutual friends Lemuria for it and sent me a copy. I've been meaning to do a formal write-up about this for over a month, but apparently I'm a total jerk and am just getting to it now.

Anyway, All Things Ordinary chronicles Derek's last month in Buffalo, NY before he moved to Portland, OR. And it is funny, touching, and just awesome. Even if you're not from Buffalo it's easy to relate to All Things Ordinary and the universal themes it deals with.



I really can't recommend this enough. And if you do your own zine Derek is willing to just trade with you. If not, it only costs $3.00, which is totally worth it for this awesome little zine. Check out his LJ for ordering info: http://backstabber.livejournal.com/340760.html

Please check out this awesome little project by a good friend of mine and you will be happily surprised plus you get silly Lemuria art drawn by me! Thanks folks!

Design by ZOMBIES!!!

Hey folks,

I've got a design up for voting on Design By Humans for their Halloweek 3 contest. It's entitled "Call from Cthulhu." It blends my love of all things Lovecraft with my ridiculous sense of humor so please check it out.

Just click the link right here or click the picture below to check it out and vote! This is one of my favorite t-shirt ideas and I'd really love to see it make print!



Thanks so much for your continued support, folks!

Pittsburgh Comicon 2009 Part 2

SATURDAY September 12, 2009 - Con Day #2



Saturday started poorly. I woke up still drunk from the night before. Corey was seriously assed-out so I decided to let him sleep until 8:30. I showered and got ready and decided to grab breakfast without him. I came back up to wake him up and he was not having it. I was starting to feel better but I knew he hadn't crawled in until way late so I decided to give him another half hour. Well, the little bugger got up at 9:30 after a shit ton of coercing.

We got to the con at 10:15am. Late. Joe and Phil took one look at us and just laughed. They knew it had been a long night. Saturday was Stan Lee day and a lot of us thought it was more of a curse than a blessing. It pulled in a lot of people but most of them dropped their $40 for an autograph and then didn't buy anything else. We made a little bit of money so I splurged and picked up a copy of Joe's Joe Loves Crappy Movies TPB which I had been wanting for a long while now. Joe did an awesome sketch of Senator Palpatine who is a recurring character in the strip.



I actually managed to gather the stones to go over and talk to Danielle Corsetto. She ended up being extremely nice and a very lovely person. We just talked comics and technique and nonsense for a little bit before I retreated back to my table.

The day wound down so Corey and I decided to recover a bit and sleep until about 8:00pm. We then ran to Taco Bell for some chow. We headed back to the hotel so I could get ahold of Mr. Dunn regarding that evening's activities. I ended up heading to the Mariott with Joe and Phil for a couple beers. Corey decided to lay low since he was still feeling a bit under the weather. But at the Marriott I got to meet some new folks, Joe and Phil's friends Mark and Todd of Kill Joy Comics and Jorge Vega a writer known for his comics 9 Months and Bloody Pulp. We hung out and talked and joked. I honestly can't think of the last time I laughed so hard. The phrases "Fine mahogany" and "Melted smoothy" will never mean the same thing to me. Ever. We actually called it a night pretty early which was a good idea considering our ride home Sunday.



SUNDAY September 13, 2009 - Con Day #3
Sunday started on a much more positive note. We got up on time, got ready, packed up our bags and such and checked out of the hotel without incidence. We got to the con nice and early and snatched a great parking spot (which was great for loading up the car at the end of the night.)

We did much better financially and actually had a lot of fun. I did zombie caricatures which a lot of people seemed to dig on, did some sketches, and actually sold some books. We still had a lot of time to walk around to talk to people which was really nice. I made enough money to grab the first volume of Danielle's comic Girls with Slingshots which I absolutely adore. She did an awesome little sketch in my book of McPedro. She even came over to our table for a little bit to check out what I was selling which was extremely cool.



So as the day ended Corey and I said our good-byes and packed up. Corey wanted to get something for his girlfriend so we ran back the Monroeville Mall where he picked up a gift and I got myself a Monroeville Zombie t-shirt. Since we actually made some money I decided we should grab some good food at Primanti Brothers. They're known for their sandwiches made with thick-ass Italian bread, provolone cheese, coleslaw, and french fries with pretty much whatever meat you can think of! I got the Capicola and it was to die for. If you are ever in the Pittsburgh area find a Primanti Brothers location and eat there! So Corey and I sit down and order and who walks in? Joe and Phil! They come over and sit with us while we all house our sandwiches.

Once again we say goodbye and head our separate ways. Corey and I headed to grab some gas and cigarettes and as I'm walking out of the convenience store I hear a horn honk and look up to see Joe and Phil standing at the goddamn gas pump. I just screamed "Stop following me!" they both just laughed. So we shot the shit for a few minutes while everyone filled up their cars and finally said our final good-byes.



The ride home actually was a bit shorter than the ride there since there really wasn't much traffic on the roads. We rolled in around 10pm.

Below is a list of people that we met at the show that you should totally check out because they are freaking awesome:
Digital Pimp Comics
Danielle Corsetto
Kill Joy Comics
Rat Tangent
Two-Fisted Press
Josh Warner
Josh Johnson
Chogger
Carbonated Comics

Pittsburgh Comicon 2009 Part 1

Hey folks,

I am back from Pittsburgh Comicon and man, did I have one hell of a weekend! I'm going to break this down by days just to attempt to keep this nice and tidy. Also it should be noted that my brother, Corey, helped me out this weekend. So here we go.



THURSDAY September 10, 2009 - Con Day #0 (Set-up)
Thursday morning I got up at 8am to check the UPS status of my book order. They still had not arrived and were headed to my old address. But the folks over at Ka-Blam! were amazing as ever and helped me get the package stopped at the hub so Corey and I could pick it up in the morning. But UPS said they couldn't guarantee that they could stop it. So, needless to say I was pretty damn stressed out.

Everything worked out, though. We got up, showered, got dressed, and grabbed some grub before heading to UPS to grab the books. After hitting up UPS, we stopped to Tops for some junk food for the road, cigarettes, and gas. We then ran home quickly to bag the 50 or so loose comics we just picked up.

We hit the road at about 11:45am. It took us about 4 hours on the road to get to Monroeville. The ride was more or less uneventful. We got to the Days Inn and things went to pot. It turns out I didn't have enough room on my credit card and I had to pay for our room with cash leaving me a whopping $40.00 in cash. Fuck.

We headed up to our room and unpacked a bit then just lounged about for about an hour. We then headed over to the Monroeville Convention Center for set-up. I think it took us all of an hour if that. Afterward, we decided to head over to the Monroeville Mall where George Romero filmed the classic Dawn of the Dead. It was literally across the street from the convention center. We wandered about and we actually found a tiny little store called Time and Space that was pretty much geek heaven. It had collectibles, toys, DVD's, comics, and a whole zombie section (of course)!

We then grabbed some dinner in the food court, stopped at a liquor store to grab some Sailor Jerry's then headed back to the hotel to relax and watch the Steelers' game.

FRIDAY September 11, 2009 - Con Day #1
Friday we woke up at 7:45am and got ourselves ready. We headed down the hotel lobby for our free breakfast. The food available consisted of bagels, doughnut holes, cereal, some fruit, coffee and juice. No protein to be found anywhere much to our disappointment (we pretty much ate bagels, doughnuts, and fruit every morning...ugh.)

We hit up the con and got situated right away. The first thing I notice is that we are stationed directly across from Danielle Corsetto. Now let me tell you a little something about Danielle. I am absolutely in love with her work. I have been a fan for a little over a year now and I read Girls with Slingshots every morning before I go to work. And I'm not going to lie, I definitely have a bit of a geek crush on her. So, of course, I'm bugging out a little bit.



The next thing I notice is a big banner down the aisle reading "Digital Pimp Comics!" Now, don't get me wrong, I knew Joe Dunn was going to be there, but I didn't expect the guy to be in the same damn aisle as us. Joe and I have been "internet friends" for probably about two years and I've been a fan of his for about four years but I'd never met the guy in person. He was kind enough to contribute both the introduction and a pin-up to the Red Eye TPB that came out back in May, so I was stoked to finally meet him in person. Joe was there with Digital Pimp writer Phil Chan (Matriculated, Another Video Game Web Comic).

So Friday was hands-down the slowest and least profitable (but not by much). So Joe, Phil, Corey, and I spent a good portion of our nine hour day wandering back between the Zombie Ink and Digital Pimp tables conversing and shooting the shit. We decided that after the show that we should get together for some beers around 9pm.

The show let out at 7pm and we were fucking starved (though this is the only con I can remember where they actually GAVE us food and drinks for lunch, which was totally awesome), so Corey and I hit up some cheap Wendy's before heading back to the hotel to change and chill out a bit.

We headed down to the bar (which was literally behind our hotel) at 9:00pm and waited for Joe and Phil. They ended up running late having dinner with some friends, so Corey and I had a few drinks (9 between the two of us) until Joe and Phil came to pick us up and go to the Mariott to meet some their friends and for more drinks. So I decide to hit the bourbon (Corey was kind enough to pay for the evening). I could have kissed that bartender the way she was making the drinks... just like I like 'em heavy on the bourbon light on the coke. Heh. We actually ended up running into three guys who were from Buffalo... one easily distinguishable by his Bills jersey... they were in town for the con as well but as fans. After lots of nonsense and hilarity Joe and Phil were ready to call it a night so we headed back to our hotel.

Corey decided that he wasn't done drinking yet and I decided to tag along for what I swore would be only one beer. Well, one turned into five and a round of snakebites. Shit. I stumbled back to the hotel at about 2am and hit the hay. Corey rolled in sometime after 4am after finding a hotel party four rooms down from us. Ah, I love my brother.

Pittsburgh Comicon this weekend...

Hey guys,

I'm going to be heading to Pittsburgh Comicon this weekend for the first time ever. My brother and I leave tomorrow for setup. I'm going to try to keep everyone posted on everything going on with daily updates but realistically I don't know if that's going to happen. If these things are as crazy as I hear, I might be too drunk to post nightly. Hahaha. Worst case I'll come back and write a giant blog post about it complete with pictures and I'll tweet from the con as well! So if you're not following me on twitter get on that sucka's! http://www.twitter.com/zombieinkcomics That's about it. Just wanted to give everyone a heads up to the awesomeness that approaches!

New comics and so much more!

Horror is finally coming to Zombie Ink Comics! In 2010, Zombie Ink Comics will be releasing a horror anthology in the style of Tales from the Crypt entitled: Weird Tales of Horror! The first issue will feature terror-tales from artist/film producer Terry Kimmel, painter Tony "Monk" Skubis, and Zombie Ink founder, Kyle J. Kaczmarczyk!

Zombie Ink Comics is also proud to announce that we have added a couple of members to our staff. A few months ago we welcomed author Lori Staufenberger as our editor. Lori is best known for her novellas "Eternal Winter" and "From Blood to Fire." And just last week Tyler Oakley joined our team as a colorist! We want to give both the warmest welcome!

Finally, due to some personal and professional issues Matty Mask will no longer be producing the 6" Red Eye bust. From a personal recommendation from Matty Mask himself Special F/X guru and sculptor Andrew Lavin will be taking over the task! Andrew is best known for his work with Buffalo Nickel productions and his work will be featured prominently in the upcoming feature film Slime City Massacre.

Jerry Lange Does The Red Eye!

Hey guys,

I am beyond proud to announce that the ever amazing Jerry Lange will be contributing the covers for The Red Eye Issues #7 - 10!



I met Jerry a couple years ago at the Buffalo Comicon and we've kept in touch since. He was also one of the fine gentlemen who contributed a pin-up to The Red Eye Vol. 1: Lost to the Future TPB. But Jerry is best known for his contributions as artist to Lifelike from IDW Comics.

I had all intentions of doing the covers myself like I did on the first story arc, but when Jerry asked if he could lend his beautiful style to the covers there was no way I could say "no."

I can't wait to see what he puts together for us!

- K.

The $2.99 Plague... Some People STILL Don't Want Comics for Kids?!

So I was perusing the Twitter and caught something that web comic genius Ryan North (Dinosaur Comics) posted yesterday regarding New York Times writer Nicholas Kristof. Mr. Kristof wrote an article back on July 4th regarding suggestions for the Best Kids' Books which you can read here: http://kristof.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/04/the-best-kids-books-ever/

Now, don't get me wrong, I by no means think that kids reading is a bad thing. What both Mr. North and I found appalling was the last part of the following paragraph:

"So now it’s your turn. What are your favorite children’s books, and why would you recommend them? Some readers will undoubtedly come for ideas, so be detailed and persuasive. And of course, kids are welcome to list their own favorites. But if you mention a comic book, I’m going to report you to your school librarian!"

In a time when comics have moved beyond trivial nonsense and become intelligent pieces of literature in their own right, why are we still hearing things like this? I feel like we've returned to arguments people were using as far back as the 1920's. According to these narrow-minded folks, somehow comic books are below traditional forms of literature. Even back then, folks who subscribed to this line of thought were missing out, especially when it came to the E.C. New Trend books (best known for Tales from the Crypt, Weird Fantasy and Two-Fisted Tales and eventually Mad Magazine... albeit these were intended for teens not kids.) These books had exceptional writing and art, and still hold up to today's standards. And comics have matured immensely in 50 years. Why are we depriving kids of these wonderful tales?

Hell, tremendous options could be found just on the list of this year's Eisner Nominees for Best Publication for Kids:
Amulet, Book 1: The Stonekeeper by Kazu Kibuishi
Cowa! by Akira Toriyama
Princess at Midnight by Andi Watson
Stinky by Eleanor Davis
Tiny Titans by Art Baltazar and Franco

But Mr. Kristof would rather shove Winnie the Pooh down their throats. Hell, he doesn't even seem to care what kids think either. As per his quote in another article. Which you can find here.

"My own kids have the temerity to think they know better than I which books they’ve enjoyed, so I’ve deigned to post their recommendations there. But listening to one’s children is dangerous: I advocate reading to them instead."

Wow, so kids are too stupid to know what they actually enjoy and it's dangerous to listen to them? Last time I checked kids were people too and have the right to their own opinion just like the rest of us. It's a shame that people like this are still around to push their dated ideas on people. They even let this guy write for the New York Times. God, help us all.

A Brief Yet Triumphant Intermission...

Hey folks,

I'm going to be taking this week off from comic work. I have been insanely busy with business and personal things and am just totally running out of steam. So I'm taking this week off to recuperate and sort of catch my breath. What does that mean for you folks? Well, that means that Pulp #3 will be coming out in August instead of July. I'm sorry for the delay, but there's no use in burning myself out especially with all that is to come starting in August. I am terribly sorry for the inconvenience but I seriously feel like I'm drowning lately. So bear with me and things will be much better for it!

Thanks for everyone's understanding and continued support,
Kyle

TEASER: The Red Eye - Plague

The Teaser Trailer for the next run of The Red Eye is now available for your viewing pleasure. Hope you guys like it! I can't wait to get rolling on this story arc. More sci-fi noir awesomeness coming your way Winter 2009!

PREVIEW: Pulp #3

Hey folks,

On the heels of the release of Pulp #2 I've got a preview of Issue #3 for you folks! So check it! I think this series is getting better and better as it goes on!



So enjoy and leave some feedback! Always love to hear what you folks think!

Pulp #2 OUT NOW

Hey folks!

I'm proud to announce that Issue #2 of Pulp: The Old Kingdom is now available for your purchasing pleasure! So head on over to IndyPlanet.com and pick up your copy!



Don't forget Issue #1 is still available as are Issues #1 - 6 of The Red Eye: Lost to the Future. That story is also now available in Trade Paperback as well!

Where's the Love?

Hey folks,

I just read a post on MySpace by Zombie Worx/Zombie Ink and personal friend, Greg Lamberson about some local film guy totally trying to trash his reputation as a film-maker. I've known Greg for a couple of years now and he has never been anything but gracious and professional in my dealings with him.

Now, I've been in the entertainment industry for 10 years now (music, comics, and now some film). And I just don't get all the negativity, especially on the indepenent level. Small folks like all of us have to band together and help hold each other up. This isn't a solo act for anyone, none of us can do it on our own. It's hard enough to make it from the ground up when everything goes well without having some schmuck meddling and trying to hold you down.

We can all learn from one another and help each other out if we can keep up a solid front of professionalism and support for each other. So share the love, there's enough to go around and forget all the negativity and nonsense!

Much Love for All,
Kyle

Zombie Ink Comics now on Twitter!

Hey folks!

So I finally got dragged into it. Zombie Ink Comics is officially on Twitter now. You can subscribe today at: www.twitter.com/zombieinkcomics for all the latest news from Zombie Ink Comics and what I'm working on! I'll also respond to questions on there as well as eventually run some contests! So head on over now and subscribe to the Zombie Ink Comics feed!

The Red Eye Vol. 1 OUT NOW!

Hey folks,

I am proud to announce that The Red Eye Volume 1 - Lost to the Future is now available for purchase online from IndyPlanet.com



This awesome TPB features:
- Issues #1 - 6 of The Red Eye
- Introduction by Joe Dunn (Joe Loves Crappy Movies, Matriculated, Coffee Achievers, Turtle vs. Bunny)
- Pin-up Gallery featuring Jerry Lange, Joe Dunn, and Monk
- Faux Comic Covers by yours truly

So please head on over and order your copy today!

Hey folks,

Yours truly is in a new podcast from Tom Waters' The Big Words I Know By Heart Radio Hour. We taped it back in March at the Buffalo Small Press Book Fair and I appear with Zombie Ink Comics editor Lori Staufenberger. Tom and I talk about The Red Eye, Pulp, Pittsburgh Comic Con, The Goon, Harvey Pekar and more! So head on over to: http://www.bigwordsradio.mypodcast.com and listen to it now or subscribe on iTunes and get them as they come out!

In this world only one thing is certain...

Hey guys.

I just finished up a new and improved version of the poster (and possible DVD art) for the independent biker crime film Born to Die!



Born to Die is directed by Jay Mager, who, until this film, I had known only through Matty Mask and a drunken encounter outside of The Towne Ballroom here in Buffalo. Haha. Since then Jay and I have become buds and he asked me to come down to the set for three days at Club Diablo, so I'll also be appearing in the film!

Well, enjoy the poster and check out the link! 'Cause in this world only one thing is certain... we are all born to die!

Thank you, Buffalo...

Hey folks,

Thanks to all of you, yours truly is a nominee for the Best Painter in Buffalo for Art Voice's Best of Buffalo! When I posted the link on MySpace and Facebook I never anticipated the kind of response that I got. I can't thank you people enough, truly from the bottom of my heart!

Head over here to see the other nominees:
http://artvoice.com/issues/v8n17/best_of_buffalo_2009/our_culture

Sincerely,
Kyle J.
Kaczmarczyk

The Red Eye is Coming!

That's right folks, Volume 1 of The Red Eye, Lost to the Future is coming out in trade paperback next month!



This handsome volume will feature almost 150 pages of pulpy sci-fi noir goodness including:
- Issues #1 - 6 of The Red Eye
- Introduction by web comic guru Joe Dunn (Joe Loves Crappy Movies, Matriculated, Coffee Achievers, Turtle vs. Bunny)
- Pin-up Gallery featuring Jerry Lange, Joe Dunn, and Monk
- Faux 1940's comic covers by yours truly

Art Voice Best of Buffalo Voting!!!

Hey guys,

The Art Voice Best of Buffalo is coming up here and yours truly and others would really appreciate your vote!

For best really small gallery - Sugar City
For best new arts/performance space - Sugar City
For best painter - yours truly - Kyle J. Kaczmarczyk
For best sculptor - Matty Mask (Matt Patterson)
For best video/film artist - Jay Mager
For best writer - Tom Waters
For best music store - The Guitar Factory
For best gift shop - Rotten Jack's Creep Shack
For best tattoo shop - Don's Nickel City Tattoo
For best annual festival/carnival/fair/lawn fete - Rotten Jack's Creep Show
For best rock act - Lemuria

Head on over to: http://artvoice.com/best to vote! Thanks so much for all your support!

- K.

Watching the Watchmen (SPOILERS WITHIN)

I know I'm a little late on the blogosphere on this one, but I really wanted to put my two cents in. Zakk Snyder's take on Watchmen is truly a fucking triumph. Now, this is coming from a fan. Watchmen is in my top five greatest comics of all time, and it's my favorite limited run series. Ever. If you didn't like the film you probably fall into one of two categories. Either it was over your head and you don't want to admit it, so you're calling it pretentious. Or you're a hardcore fan who wanted every last frame to be recreated. Whichever category you fall into I feel really fucking bad for you, because you are missing out on a spectacular piece of cinema.

For the hard-line insane fans, there was no way in hell you were going to fit every last goddamned detail into any film adaptation of Watchmen. Alan Moore's work is just too layered for that to happen with overlapping themes and story arcs that occur with minor characters. Did we need to know about the lesbian couple's relationship problems in the film? No. Did we need the dialogue between the two Bernards? No. (Though we do get a quick glimpse of them just before they die... a wonderful touch for fans of the book.) Hell, do we need to see Rorschach's psychiatrist's relationship with his wife crumble due to his working of the case? No. I'm sure it was tough enough to cover all six main characters in two hours and forty-five minutes. And I don't want to hear shit about The Black Freighter not being in the film as it is coming out March 24th as an animated DVD.

But this happens all the time when a piece of literature is adapted for cinema. That's why it's called an adaptation. Why would Watchmen be any different? Hell, have any of you read Jurassic Park? It's remarkably different from the film but both are still brilliant pieces of fiction in their own way.

But seriously, there is no way in hell we could have gotten a better adaptation of Watchmen. If you honestly think I'm wrong, then you are sadly mistaken. Zakk Snyder showed true love for the series and fought the good fight for you people. This was extremely apparent from everything from casting relatively unknown actors, to the song choices for the soundtrack, to the tiny bits of detail in each scene meticulously recreated in the film. So, give it a second go and if you still don't like it, well, then I feel bad for you.

"There don't seem to be that many laughs around these days."
"Well, what do you expect? The Comedian is dead."

Zombies VS. Monsters ROUND 2!!!

Zombie Ink Comics founder Kyle J.
Kaczmarczyk spent 11 hours with Tom Waters of Monsters of Verse earlier this month and it's all captured on audio! So head on over to the Monsters of Verse Podcast! Tom and I talk about all sorts of things from the first issue of Pulp, the new Spirit and Watchmen films, the Brian Azzarello Joker graphic novel, and lots more! So head on over check out Episodes 10 (plus the bonus) and 11!!!

PREVIEW: Pulp: The Old Kingdom Issue #2

Here it is people. The preview for Issue #2 of Pulp: The Old Kingdom in this issue Bernhardt and Nori will face off against a giant dragon and other perils! Hold on as this Epic Tale of High Adventure continues!



- K.

Double Creature Feature This Weekend!!!

Hey all,

I'll be making a couple of appearances this weekend so come on out!

I'll have the following for sale:
The Red Eye: Lost to the Future Issues #1 - 6
Pulp: The Old Kingdom Issue #1
Zombie Ink Comics posters
Zombie Worx Productions tees
And all sorts of paintings (ranging from $10 to $50)

Here be the details...

Monsters of Verse Book Signing/Appearance
Saturday February 7, 2009
FYE #1974
6743 Transit Rd.
Williamsville, NY 14221
1pm - 4pm

Tom's Atomic Kegger Book Signing/Appearance/Party
Saturday February 7, 2009
Don's Atomic Comics
6354 Transit Rd.
Depew, NY 14043
6pm - ???
Bring or buy a copy of a Tom Waters book or J.R. Finlayson book and drink for free!
Bring a female and get 20% off!

The Red Eye Busted Pt. 2

Hey folks,

Here's a sneak peak at how the Red Eye busts are coming along!!! Photo courtesy of Matty Mask.

Enjoy!!



- K.

Not so Marvel-ous...

I'm sure a lot of comic fans have already heard the grim news. Marvel comics plans on raising the price of their single issues from $2.99 (already nothing to sneeze at) to $3.99. (It's not on all their issues yet but if it's successful don't be surprised if you see their full line go up in price.) Now let me put this into perspective for you. I charge $4.00 an issue for 22 page comics (technically 24 but there's 2 pages of ads) and I don't print anywhere near the number that bigwigs like Marvel are putting out.

And let's face it. We're far from in a golden age of writing and art with the big two. Marvel and DC have been putting out mediocre product for a very long time with a few glaring exceptions (the recent Brian Azzarello Joker graphic novel springs to mind). And why should folks pay an extra buck when they can plunk down $2.99 for amazing comics like Hellboy, The Goon, The Walking Dead, Invincible, Fear Agent, etc.?!? And most folks don't mind paying a little more for a smaller press book either. I know IDW has been charging $3.99 for some time. But it's definitely not the same tripe that Marvel is putting out. I'm sorry. And I sure as shit don't believe in having to buy twenty plus titles a month to keep up with a storyline (I'm looking at you Civil War and Secret Invasion).

Perhaps it's just time for some of us comic geeks to let go. Hell, I haven't been able to afford to buy individual issues since the summer and I was only buying 3 titles a month. But I know guys who easily drop $200 a month on comics. And you DC fanboys can bet your asses if Marvel fans keep buying DC will quickly follow suit. The best way to fix all this? Don't buy Marvel's $3.99 titles. Vote with your wallet folks.

- K.