SiDEBAR - COMICS, ART & POP CULTURE

Podcast Episode 217 :: WILLIAM WRAY

Click here to listen to the show

William Wray is a trip. Let me say that up front. He is a former comic book artist, former animator, former cartoonist, and present-day fine artist; but turns out his real superpower is that of storyteller. And his stories will trip you out.

If his name sounds familiar, it's because Wray went by 'Bill Wray' back in his commercial art days. As Bill, he worked for animation houses like Spumco and Filmation, drew comics for companies like Marvel and Dark Horse, and was the one-man creative force behind Monroe, a strip he did for MAD magazine. Monroe ran in over 100 issues of MAD before a frustrated BIll finally hit the ejector button.

He also co-created Hellboy Junior in 1997 with his friend, writer-artist Mike Mignola. The series was a one-shot, but is fondly remembered by the rabid fans of the Anung un Rama universe.

During our conversation, Wray dropped a few names, but not at all in the douchey way. When one has had as varied a career path as him, one is bound to have run into everybody: Dave Stevens, Doug Wildey, Howard Chaykin, John Kricfaluci, Roy Thomas, Al Williamson, Tony Dezuniga, Alfredo Alcala, Jack Kirby, Ashley Wood, etc. Exhausting, right?

We jumped on board the Bill Train and held on for dear life as he regaled us with tales that will literally curl your hair. And he also shared some insights into his life now as a fine artist; a pursuit he finds richly satisfying, but replete with its own unique challenges.

Oh, and do pick up a copy of Wray's new art book from Brandstudio Press called Monolith. It's his second book with Brandstudio and looks to be 48 pages of full-color, full-bleed, urban landscape awesomeness.

Thanks for checking out the interview. We had a lot of fun. William Wray was a hoot.

And a trip.

- SWAiN

***Bill's blog.

Below are a few of Wray's fine art pieces. Love 'em!

Podcast Episode 216 :: Bookshelf Babble-On

Click here to listen to the show

I think we got us a series, y'all. Welcome to our third Bookshelf Babble-On!

If you haven't listened to our previous installments, the premise of this series is this: We go to our respective bookshelves, pick a book we like, and try not to bore everybody for the next hour. It's that simple.

Dwight's choice for this episode was an old favorite in terms of the artist: Luis Royo's "Third Millennium". One part art book, one part narrative, and all parts apocalyptic; Royo's hauntingly beautiful art details the story of a physically deteriorating man who replaces his dead body parts with mechanical ones. It also explores the untraditional romance he has with the woman he pines for with the ultimate of contrasts: flesh against metal.

Dwight has mentioned Royo's name fondly on this podcast and in person, so it was fun hearing him officially wax poetic on the pathos within one of Luis' stories.

My pick was "Sharaz-de: Tales from the Arabian Nights" by the late Sergio Toppi. As most know, Toppi passed away last year. And being a relatively new fan, I was determined to get one of his books on my bookshelf sooner rather than later. So, when Archaia Entertainment announced that they were putting out an English language edition of "Sharaz-de", let's just say that like Marcellus Wallace: "I was on the motherf*cker, Jules".

The story is a classic tale of evil spirits, despotic kings and supernatural intrigue, and it is gorgeous to behold. If you don't know Toppi's work, you ought to be ashamed — ashamed, I say!

Adrian's book was a curve ball, folks. You do a podcast with a guy for a few years and you think you know him. Not so much. "The Adventures of Jodelle" by Guy Peellaert and Pierre Bartier is as pop art as pop art can be. And who knew Adrian really dug that stuff?! (Not us.)

Though "Jodelle" has been a sensation in Europe for decades, Peellaert wasn't even a comic book artist when he created it. He was a Belgium advertising dropout who wanted to try comics as another medium of expression. Rumor has it, Peellaert often made up the story page-by-page as he drew it. 

"The Adventures of Jodelle" is an sexy, anachronistic romp filled with the juicy visuals and aesthetic of the emerging counter-culture of the mid-1960s. And to be even more subversive, Peellaert appropriated the visage of real-life French teen idol Sylvie Vartan as his heroine, Jodelle.

Also, 'Jodelle' was first run in the French magazine Hara-Kiri, which was also home to several early efforts of Moebius (Jean Giraud)!

Thanks for checking out another Babble-On, 'Nation. We appreciate the ears. More interviews and roundtables a-coming!

- SWAiN

**There is another Easter egg at the end of this one covering "the one(s) that got away.

Podcast Episode 215 :: Remembering the Man Called MOEBIUS

Click here to listen to the show

Jean Giraud.

Moebius.  

Two names existing as a monolith of singular vision. A vision that can conjure tales of gunfighters riding the arid trails of the Old West, to alternate worlds with towering mega-cities, to the farthest expanse of the imagination.

And beyond.

When Jean Giraud aka Moebius died a year ago, social media amongst his fans went nuts! It's not hyperbole to say that Giraud was one of the few living artists whose work was universally admired and loved by everyone.

He is missed.

To mark the anniversary of his passing (March 10, 2012), we took an hour to remember Moebius. Words could hardly encapsulate the breadth of this career, though we do try. Thanks for stopping by and taking a listen.

- ADRiAN

**In honor of Blueberry, we threw an Easter egg at the end of this one discussing our favorite westerns. Stay til the end credits roll, 'Nation!

Below is an image from Arzach, the wordless comic series Giraud created back in 1975 for his own Métal Hurlant (Heavy Metal). Arzach was probably considered an instant classic the day it debuted.

It's always fun when you see guys and gals who don't normally do mainstream comics tackle well-known mainstream characters. Their takes are usually provocative and challenge your ideas of what these characters should look and feel like. These are from a series of posters produced by Marvel in 1990.

A painted image from Blueberry, Moebius' popular western series. It would be almost trite to say that this man could draw anything and make it look awesome — so I won't say it!

From the book 40 Days in the Desert. Love it.

I'm a Hendrix fan, so what the hell. Jean Giraud collides with pop culture, yet again!

A shot of the man himself at a gallery show somewhere. If anyone knows the where and the when, shoot us a note.

- SWAiN

Spectrum Fantastic Art Live 2: Special Guest - CHARLES VESS

I've been a Charles Vess fan for a good long while now. Vess has an appealing, but unique style, he's kept busy in his long career (comics, children's books, a terrific art book called Drawing Down the Moon), and he seems to love his work. From the outside in, he appears to be having a ball in his chosen profession. (Or did it choose him?)

Vess has never been a guest on this podcast, but after SFAL 2 next month, who knows? Either way, I look forward to meeting the guy.

- SWAiN

**We will be at Spectrum Live again this year doing moderation from the main stage and such. Hope to see you there!

Spectrum Fantastic Art Live 2: Special Guest - PETER DE SÈVE

The title says it all. Peter de Sève is an artist, illustrator and character designer, as well as past guest of this show. And we wanna pump up his appearance at Spectrum Live next month. Should be an awesome time in Kansas City, and I, for one, look forward to meeting de Sève in person. He's a good guy.

Check out our chat with him and thanks as always.

- SWAiN

**Tickets are still available for SFAL. Get yours now!

Podcast Episode 214 :: JOHN ROMITA, JR

Click here to listen to the show

With a career spanning over three decades, John Romita, Jr. has come to be known as "Mr. Marvel" or simply "JRJR". Like his father, John Romita, Sr., his name is practically synomynous with Marvel Comics as he has depicted nearly every character in the company's universe.

With a style typified by solid storytelling and powerful visuals, JRJR puts the 'super' in super-heroes. He is as adept at illustrating tales of street-level crimes as he is with capturing the majesty of galaxy-spanning demigods. 

Romita, Jr. has been a personal favorite of mine since my first issue of his Iron Man run (#258, to be exact). I got it as part of a 3-for-$2 grab bag when I was a young teen. Shortly thereafter, I started collecting anything I could find of his: Uncanny X-Men, Daredevil, Punisher War Zone, Daredevil: Man Without Fear, and of course, Amazing Spider-Man.

But JRJR's success and longevity have not come without joys and pains as we discover in our conversation. He details his early career wrought with accusations of nepotism, and his mission to establish his own artistic identity apart from that of his legendary dad.

John also regales us with hilarious stories of the 1980s-era Marvel bullpen and him being the first (and only) Marvel "Hunk of the Month". And he speaks warmly of his collaborations with writers Frank Miller, Ann Nocenti and Mark Millar, as well as inkers Al Williamson and Klaus Janson.

- ADRiAN

* Special thanks to our friend Warren Drummond for helping make this interview possible.

Podcast Episode 213 :: DAN DOS SANTOS

Click here to listen to the show 

In a marketplace where digital is increasingly becoming the production standard for book covers and sci-fi/fantasy art, there are artists still dedicated to bringing fantastical visions to life with oil-to-canvas.

One of those artists is Dan Dos Santos!

In our conversation, we discuss working within the ever-changing field of sci-fi/fantasy art, his mentorship with illustrator Steven Stroud, love of comics, and the virtues of hard work instilled in him by his parents. Dan also relates his founding of the Muddy Colors blog and what the future may hold for it.

Dos Santos has worked for clients such as Disney, Universal Studios, Scholastic Books and Wizards of the Coast, and can be found online at dandossantos.com. He posts regularly on the aforementioned Muddy Colors blog as well, along with his fellow contributors.

- ADRiAN

 

 

Podcast Episode 212 :: Shine On — TONY SALMONS

Click here to listen to the show.

In this latest edition of our 'Shine On' series, we focus on artist Tony Salmons. In the circles of comic book art, Salmons has been lauded for his energetic, avant-garde approach on titles such as Dakota North, Vigilante, The Mark and Doctor Strange.

A thinking man and an "artist's artist", Salmons is hailed by his peers as one of the brightest of their generation. However, many of those same peers will also relate that Tony seems plagued by misfortune, chronic lateness and the ruination of relationships in his professional and personal life.

Swain and I discuss these aspects of Salmons' career as well as his influences and his influence on other cartoonists.

- ADRiAN

**Special thanks to friend of the show Michel Fiffe for his excellent three-part interview with Salmons at The Factual Opinion. Many of the points from our conversation were culled from Fiffe's interview. 

***And another thanks to past guest Toby Cypress for his story about meeting Salmons. We quoted him from his post on the DrawingBoard.org forums.

 

Cliff Hanger

Cliff Chiang (whom we love) is getting his own Modern Masters from Two Morrows Publishing (whom we also love). The book is being edited by Chris Arrant and our pal Eric Nolen-Weathington, and it should be awesome. All the MMs are very well done and Chiang is a superb artist. I've been a fan of both for a lot of years.

Check for it in May.

- SWAiN

Cliffy was on the show back in 2011. Click here to listen in.

Podcast Episode 211 :: Under the Influence

Click here to listen to the show 

Despite our slightly misleading title, the conversation on the show today is pretty sober. And we were joined in it by a special guest, Wilfredo Torres — friend of the show and artist on The Shadow: Year One mini-series available right now from Dynamite Entertainment. It seemed apropos to ask Wilfredo on. Not only is he a stellar artist himself, but one look at his work will easily tell you what his influences are.

Or will it..?

Hence, the crux of today's roundtable. We chop up the nature of influence in comics and art. Why some artists transcend their influences while others do not. How far should said influences go? And can one be influenced in ways other than visually?

Check out the discussion and see what you think. Our goal with the talk was to take a conversation we have all had privately with our buddies, and bring it to the fore. Hell, you'll even learn to appreciate the greatness that is Curt Swan if you don't already. (Shame on you if you don't!)

-ADRiAN  

Podcast Episode 210 :: NATHAN FOWKES

Click here to listen to the show

Today's conversation is with visual development artist/instructor Nathan Fowkes. Fowkes' career in animation of nearly two decades has included work with clients such as DreamWorks, Disney and Digital Domain, and spans feature films like The Road To El Dorado, The Prince of Egypt and Shrek Forever After. He shares some enlightening and funny anecdotes about working in the field of "entertainment arts".

Nathan also details his experience as an instructor; teaching classes in charcoal portraiture and use of color and light. And as Fowkes reveals, he once had a famous artist in his class and didn't even know it. (It's great, too!). Allow us to say that you owe it to yourself to discover Fowkes' masterful charcoal drawings and vibrant watercolors. 

He can be found online at nathanfowkes.blogspot.com. Tell him SiDEBAR sent you!

- ADRiAN

 

 

Podcast Episode 209 :: Run for Your Life

Click here to listen to the show

Belated Happy New Year, 'Nation!

The Tres Amigos are recovered and ready to bring you the art funky like none other. First, we have some unfinished business from last year as we present Dwight with his belated Christmas gift (it's good, too!). Then, Swain and I give thanks for bundles of amazing books that we received from friends of the show (Thanks, Derek and Colby!). 

Then it's our Feature Presentation of the roundtable segment we like to call 'Run For Your Life'. For the uninitiated, this is the segment where Dwight, Swain and myself each choose a run of comics that impacted us personally and chop it up. Dwight chose Fantastic Four issues 279-281, Swain chose Amazing Spider-Man issues #18-22 and I chose The Invaders issues #1-28, plus the Giant-Size Annual PLUS the What If? issue #4. (It all fits together, trust me.)

Hope you enjoy the talk and here's to an awesome 2013!

- ADRiAN     

Podcast Episode 208 :: 2012 Year End Wrap-Up

Click here to listen to the show

Of course, on this last episode of 2012, we reflect a little and celebrate a lot. Plenty of great interviews were had this year, tons of fulfilling conversations, some big belly laughs, and even a few cries. It's been a good one, 'Nation.

Thank you sincerely for hanging out with us over the last twelve months. We couldn’t have done it without you all.

Thank you to each and every guest who made the time to come on the show and chat. You are appreciated! *Tupac voice*

Thank you to Graham Crackers Comics for continuing to be the best sponsor around. John, you and the guys are the best!

And my personal thanks to Dwight and Adrian for having my back on these here mics. The three of us form a unit like Voltron, yo!

- SWAiN

Podcast Episode 207 :: STEVE 'THE DUDE' RUDE

Click here to listen to the show

Steve Rude aka the Dude is by far one of my favorite comic book artists and illustrators. By far. So it was a real honor to finally interview him for this podcast. Oh, sorry — Steve Rude is generally known as the Dude to his friends. (Come on, try to keep up.)

I’m a fan of the Dude’s going back to my late teens. With his brilliant, sci-fi adventure series Nexus (with writer Mike Baron), The Incredible Hulk vs. Superman, World's Finest, X-men: Children of the Atom, and his work on so many other titles; the guy is just the best.

I have my pal Don Hillsman to thank again for turning me on to Nexus, and essentially, on to Steve Rude. Don was reading Nexus in the ‘80s, and as he had done many times before, shared the love. I said he was a pal, right?

After that, I became a rabid fan of Rude's stuff. I bought all of his comics, and eventually his art books, too. And discovered he was not only an outstanding comic book artist, but an outstanding all-around artist. The Dude can do it all — illustration, portraits, landscapes, commercial art — all of it! But as we found out in our talk with him, at the end of the day, comics are home. They are his calling.

Originally from the Midwest (like Dwight and I), Steve now makes his home in Peoria, AZ. He’s a family man (which comes up in the interview), fiercely loyal to his friends, and dedicated in the truest sense to his craft. You won’t meet a guy more committed to growing as an artist.

Our conversation covers it all, although not step-by-step. We thought it best to try and ask the Dude good questions and just let him talk. I mean, he’s been at this thing for over 30 years, right? We figured he had some stories to tell and opinions to share. And he damn sure did!

 

Our thanks to Steve for coming on with us and being so epic. (We knew he would be!) Our thanks to you all for listening in and supporting the show.  And check out Steve’s new DC project, a Dollar Bill One-Shot, when it hits stores everywhere in January. It looks amazing.

Okay, enough typing. It's time for hyperspeed! It's time for the Dude!

- SWAiN

**Scoop a copy of his 2007 art book — Steve Rude: Artist in Motion.

When Harry Met SiDEBAR

Since we recently talked to comic book artist Steve Rude for the show, I thought I'd troll the internet and look for art by some of the golden age illustrators he loves. You know — your John Gannams, your John Singer Sargents, your Haddon Sundbloms. Why did I go and do that, huh?

Harry Anderson is a complete beast. A superb illustrator who came from the ranks of some of the best to ever do the job. Rude never lied when he told us Anderson would "get it all just perfect". I mean, look up top..!

Harry was born in 1906, attended college in Illinois, discovered his penchant towards art and painting, and moved to Syracuse to attend art school there (Syracuse School of Art). He graduated in 1931, and by 1937 was doing work for all the national magazines: Collier's, Cosmopolitan, Redbook, The Saturday Evening Post, etc.

Harry continued to paint pictures into the 1980s, but sadly passed away on November 19, 1996.

Below is an excerpt from American Art Archives about Anderson:

"Conception, composition, value, draughtsmanship, and painting dexterity," Harry Anderson once said, "must all work together. And they are important in just that order. But the parts all become automatic in time." No picture, according to him, would be deemed acceptable with any of these elements neglected. As one of the top illustrators from the 1930s to the 1980s, Harry spoke with quiet authority on the subject of making pictures.

- SWAiN

Podcast Episode 206 :: LEINIL YU

Click here to listen to the show

I wanna talk about Adrian Johnson for a minute. Yes, I know today’s interview is with 'The Quiet Superstar' Leinil Yu — but indulge me, please.

The three of us are all fans of Leinil’s, but it was Adrian who pulled the trigger and invited him on the show. Yu and Adrian are roughly the same age, both are Image Comics babies, and Adrian became a fan of Leinil’s right from the jump: his professional comics debut on Marvel’s Wolverine (1997).

Adrian was majorly excited when the Manila-based artist said yes to the podcast invitation. He dove headfirst into his prep and research for the talk. And it was a real treat to sit and watch my boy cheezin’ like the Cheshire Cat as he interviewed someone for whom he's been a longtime fan. Matter of fact, it always is. When Dwight does it, I love watching it; and I’m sure when I do it, those two guys get a kick out of it. Okay, back to Leinil!

Wolverine, Superman: Birthright, Batman/Danger Girl, New Avengers, Supercrooks, Superior, and now Indestructible Hulk — Leinil Francis Yu is rocking it. And not just because of the kinds of books he works on. The dynamism and raw energy in his work put him head and shoulders above many of his peers — but then so does his prolificity. In a fanboy world where we throw the term ‘superstar’ around willy-nilly because someone “draws good” and quickly gains popularity, Yu actually cranks out the pages.

He does the work. He makes comics.

It’s a shame that one has to parse that distinction from other so-called comics superstars, but it’s true. (They know who they are.)

Enjoy hearing about Leinil’s early days and the influence of guys like Travis Charest and Yu’s mentor, Whilce Portacio. Enjoy hearing about his excursions into concept art for film (Serenity). Enjoy hearing Leinil very pragmatically reconcile himself with the lofty term ‘superstar’. And definitely enjoy listening in on the overall good time we had chatting with this humble, yet multi-faceted guy. Because it was like that!

Thanks, Leinil.

- SWAiN

**Some Firefly/Serenity concept art by Yu!

Podcast Episode 205 :: Rise & Shine feat. JANE RADSTROM and JAMES HARREN

Click here to listen to the show

On this podcast, we talk to tons and tons of creators. The vast majority of which have had long and very fruitful careers. They've seen it all and done it all, too.

Well, we thought it was high time we got off our asses and created a format where we could bring some relatively new talent to the fore. You know, guys and gals who are on the front ends of their careers, but show incredible promise even now. Hence, Rise & Shine: Their stars are on the rise and we wanna give them some shine. So, here goes!

First up is Jane Radstrom. Without giving too much away here, Jane is an artist and illustrator based out of Austin, Texas. She's a grad of the Ringling College of Art and Design and now works, not only as a freelance illustrator, but also as a drawing instructor for The Art Department (TAD).

Don't be fooled, though. Jane's real secret weapon is her personal work. Not to downplay her skills as a commercial artist (she's got 'em), but her fine art is amazing. You can find the charming Ms. Radstrom on-line right here. Do click now.

Next up is sensational young comic artist James Harren. James hails from Doylestown, Pennyslyvania, but received his formal art training at The School of Visual Arts in New York. And as fate would have it, legendary artist and inker (and past SiDEBAR guest) Klaus Janson was one of Harren's instructors while he was in school.

After SVA, James cut his teeth freelancing for a year at Marvel Comics, then settled in nicely with the folks over at Dark Horse. So far, he's done a killer job on titles like Abe Sapien, Conan the Barbarian, and of course, B.P.R.D.

This guy is definitley the one to check for. You can find him on-line at his DA page, as well as his blog Pregnant Void. (Yeah, we know — dope name.)

- SWAiN

**Here's a link to a cool short video featuring Jane Radstrom. Below are two of her personal pieces.

 

And here are two images by Mr. Harren. The one on the left is his latest B.P.R.D. cover.

 

Podcast Episode 204 :: Halloween Special - THE 'SUPER' IN SUPERNATURAL

Click here to listen to the show

Trick or treat, smell my feet, give me something good to eat. — Unknown

Our Halloween shows are little more than another opportunity for the three of us to run our mouths, but we do try to make them special. And finding ways to connect our nerdiness with our love of 'the scary' is far from a chore — we love it!

That said, today's episode is all about superheroes who wield magic and mysticism, or in some cases, the straight up occult. Many of these characters are incredibly powerful with god-like abilities, yet when you think about it, they are generally not super popular. Why is that?

The Spectre, Dr. Strange, Zatanna and even Death herself are just a few of the conjurers and other-worldly types we bring up in our conversation. We also dig around in their origins and shrouded pasts, as well as make fun of their alter egos and nicknames (some of which you won't believe).

As always, thanks for tuning in, 'Nation. Let us know what you think, and we hope all who celebrated it had a happy and safe Halloween!

- SWAiN

**Lots of episode-specific music played on this one: "Abracadabra" by The Steve Miller Band, "Strange Magic" by ELO, "You Can Do Magic" by America, and Nina Simone's "I Put a Spell on You".

And we posted a few cool images here by some artists we dig: Tomm Coker, Adam Hughes and Christopher Gutierrez.

 

Here Comes Krampus!

BROM's new book Krampus the Yule Lord is out now (technically it dropped Tuesday). He mentioned said book when he was on the show back in the summer, and now it's no longer a 'said' — it's a 'done'.

This project sounds like a real hoot, too. I googled Krampus mythology just for sh*ts and gigs, and almost laughed my ass off!

If you're looking for that perfect gift for this time of year, nothing gives you the warmies like a grumpy old creature who punishes misbehaving children. Pick up Krampus the Yule Lord on-line or at your local book store.

- SWAiN

Podcast Episode 203 :: "Read Between the Lines..." - Exploring HBO's Brilliant Police Drama THE WIRE (Part II)

Click here to listen to the show

As promised, here is part two of our epic discussion of HBO's The Wire. From the towers, to the terrace, to every corner in West Baltimore — Adrian and I dig in.

This one covers most of season four and also, season five, the final season. And I gotta say, watching the last episode of the last season was tough. It was like saying goodbye to a new best friend I had made at summer camp — on the very last day of camp. Bittersweet...

As established on part one, these shows are super spoilerific. You have been warned!

- SWAiN

**Thanks to David Simon, Ed Burns, and everyone who worked on this show for one hell of a ride.

And please stay tuned for more interviews and roundtables. Especially our upcoming Halloween special — muahahahahaha!

SFAL 2 Special Guest :: PETER DE SEVE

We had the extreme pleasure of interviewing illustrator and character designer Peter de Sève on the show back in October of 2009. He was a good time, too! Lots of laughs, but also lots of insight into what makes him tick (his family, his work, his love of Frazetta).

And meeting Peter in person at Spectrum Fantastic Art Live 2 next year will make the circle complete, we think. Putting faces with voices is what we look forward to these days. SFAL tends to have that by the pantload!

Go here to get more details on SFAL 2. Go here to ogle more of de Sève's gorgeous art work.

- SWAiN

**The Batman image used here is an oldie but a goodie!

Podcast Episode 202 :: "Listen Carefully..." - Exploring HBO's Brilliant Police Drama THE WIRE (Part I)

 

Click here to listen to the show

(WARNING: Due to spoilerific content, listener discretion is advised.)

About a month ago, Swain and I plowed through all five seasons of HBO's The Wire. Disc by disc.

"What took you guys so long?!"

I hear you yelling. But I think I speak for both of us when I say that we had reservations regarding the nigh-universal and perpetual acclaim that the series garners. Could it live up to the hype? Five seasons later — yes!

From some of The Wire's most memorable characters (Jimmy McNulty, Omar Little, Stringer Bell, Snoop), to the behind the scenes production, to our favorite quotes; Swain and I delve fully into the world of West Baltimore.

And again, if you have not seen the show and plan to, I highly recommend you save these episodes until after you do (trust).

Like the epic scope of the series itself, we'll deliver our conversation to you guys in two parts. In other words, we're dropping off "that good package". So step on it and get your fix.

- ADRiAN

**Below are a few key frames from the greatest drama in American television history.

Podcast Episode 201 :: PASCAL CAMPION

Click here to listen to the show

Pascal Campion is the definition of prolific. As a matter of fact, if you look the word up on dictionary.com, it hyperlinks to his website (kidding). Sarcasm aside, this man does his thing, he does it well, and he does it a lot! His friend Anthony Vu says he has over a 1000 Campion images saved on his computer. And Vu received all of them via email — one day at a time.

I became a stalker fan of Pascal's work like most of you did. Somehow, I stumbled across his sketch-a-day drawings and simply fell in love. And I mean that. I started going to his blog daily to check for them. It became a bit of an obsession!

If you aren't familiar with Pascal's art, specifically his sketches, they're the best. These colorful slices of life that are superbly rendered and warmly captured. Turns out, Pascal is a listener to the podcast, which is always flattering to hear. We're humbled to say the least when artists, especially great artists, enjoy the talks.

Two new Campion books out this year: Papa c'est Moi, a family-focused collection of his work, and Sunny Side - The Art of Pascal Campion. The latter is a bigger book, we hear, and has way more in it in terms of the "how". Click and buy if you wanna soak up his goodness in hardcopy form.

To Pascal, my friend: I appreciate your putting up with my feeble attempts to affect a French accent during the interview. I wanted to impress you, but I suspect I missed. (C'est la vie?) Either way, thanks for coming on the show and chatting with us. Dwight and I enjoyed it immensely.

- SWAiN

**Anthony Vu produced a short video on Pascal and his art. Take a look here.

IDW Announces Cerebus Cover Book

That's right, IDW is at it again. They just announced they're doing a book collecting all of the covers from Aardvark-Vanaheim's cult classic series Cerebus. That's almost three decades worth of covers, folks. I am beyond happy with this news!

For those of you woefully unaware, Cerebus is the longest-running, self-published, independent comic book of all time. Launched in 1977, writer, artist and publisher Dave Sim wore many a hat on the book before finally ending the fan favorite series in '04.

With his fearless humor, oddball characters, and rich black and white art work, Sim made a lot of readers happy chronicling the adventures of one pint-sized, pissed off aardvark. Not bad for a guy who started out riffing on sword and sorcery and Barry Windsor-Smith's Conan. And I know I state the obvious when I say Cerebus quickly evolved beyond its inspirations.

Apparently, the heads over at IDW are big fans, too. Not surprising. Those guys have shown excellent taste with the other projects they've taken on (Miller and Mazzucchelli's Daredevil, Simonson's Thor). And I mean, come on — all the Cerebus covers and cover-related material together under one roof? Boo-yah, baby. Here's what the Dave Sim had to say on the subject:

Dave Sim, president of Aardvark-Vanaheim, added, "I can't think of any other publisher than IDW and any other editor than Scott Dunbier to whom I would have entrusted this Herculean task. I'm working full-time with Scott, providing him with every imaginable raw material needed. Based on Scott's flawless track record, I think we're all in for a treat."

Yup.

- SWAiN

**A big thank you to my friend Don Hillsman for turning me on to Cerebus in the first place. Don did that a lot back when we were kids.

OTTO-Matic!

This is a random piece of art by Otto Schmidt. He's awesome. We "found" Schmidt on Facebook and are now fans. One problem, though — Otto's own FB page and blog are in Russian and we don't speak or read the language. (Looks like he makes his home in Moscow.)

If you're reading this post and happen to know anything about Otto Schmidt or his career, throw us a bone. We're curious because, again, we're fans. If not, just enjoy the image!

- SWAiN

Podcast Episode 200 :: Listener Call-In Show

Click here to listen to the show

"DJ, please ... pick up the phone, I'm on the request line!" — Rock Master Scott & the Dynamic Three

Today's topic is "milestones", and two hundred podcasts is definitely a milestone for the three of us. We not only didn't think we'd ever get here, we never even thought about getting here! We just took it a step at a time, a day at a time. And so...

Thank you to everyone who called in for the Listener Call-In Show. It was made special only by your presence. And a huge thanks to everyone who has ever downloaded an epsiode, sent an email, posted a comment, made a donation, or said "hello" to us at a con or event. Every single interaction we've had with you all has meant a lot to us.

You are friends. You are the 'Nation.

Hope you enjoy listening to episode 200. And as several callers warmly wished us during the recording — here's to 200 more!

- DWiGHT, SWAiN & ADRiAN

The More the Muddier

Looks like the size of the Muddy Colors crew has expanded. When the site first jumped off in August 2009, there were maybe a half dozen contributors. Now, the number is over a dozen and climbing!

We're fans of all the artists on the blog, and in some cases, friends, too. I remember chatting with Dan dos Santos at Spectrum Live not four months ago about Muddy's ever-growing ranks. And the three of us here could not be more stoked to see former SiDEBAR guests Paolo Rivera and Arnie Fenner as new-ish contributors to the collective. Both, awesome guys.

If you're looking for art-centric insight coming straight from a pro's perspective — check 'em out. (Below is an up-to-date list of "the muddy ones".)

• Serge Birault
• Tim Bruckner
• Dan dos Santos
• Jesper Ejsing
• Arnie Fenner
• Eric Fortune
• Justin Gerard
• Donato Giancola
• Gregory Manchess
• Petar Meseldžija
• John Jude Palencar
• Paolo Rivera
• Terryl Whitlatch

- SWAiN

**The image above was painted by the always-awesome, above-mentioned Mr. Santos.

Podcast Episode 199 :: Countdown to Call Time

Click here to listen to the show

As we waited to hear from the 'Nation — the three Amigos, the Siblings, Dwight, Swain and Adrian — decided to reflect a little. Basically, it was our normal intro for episode 200, but we went deeper. You know — how the show got started, what we thought then versus what we think now, changes along the way.

And it only seemed right after listening to the audio to give that reflection its own space. Besides, we got so many great calls and heard from so many of you, you all deserved your own space, too.

So, we hope you enjoy this little apéritif. Coming up next, the main course!

SCOTT M. FISCHER'S Evolving Easel

Scott's a relatively recent fave of mine. I've probably been following his work for three years now, and I'm certain I have Irene Gallo to thank. Her blog, The Art Department, was a once-a-day go-to for me when we first started this show. Tons of amazing artists were found while trolling her archived blog posts. Scott Fischer being one.

Fischer makes his loot painting book covers, writing and illustrating children's stories, and doing design work for gaming. The piece above is for a Magic the Gathering expansion called Return to Ravnica. If you click on over to Scott's blog, he'll explain how he put it down.

- SWAiN

**Return to Ravnica is set for release on Oct. 5, 2012.

SFAL Returns!

We cannot stress enough what a time you missed if you didn't make it to Spectrum Fantastic Art Live. Twas a celebration of art like no other.

Well, as fate would have it, you're being given a second chance! SFAL 2 is definitely a go for next year in Kansas City, MO. May 17-19 is the date and the Bartle Hall Convention Center is the place.

Original art (paintings, drawings, sculptures, costumes, jewelry, vinyl), prints, photographs, art books, sketchbooks, panels, discussion, tutorials, live art right from the floor of the show, live models for life drawing, art-centric commaradarie like you've never seen... Trust us, SFAL is the truth.

And 2013 teases a new batch of amazing special guests: Peter de Sève, Tara McPherson, Charles Vess, Michael R. Whelan, and Terryl Whitlatch. Boo-yah.

Click on the link above for more details and start planning for it now!

- SWAiN

Episode 198 :: THOMAS BLACKSHEAR

Click here to listen to the show

The amazing Thomas Blackshear has finally graced these esteemed microphones and we are elated! Thomas has been on the short list of wanted SiDEBAR guests for eons (or at least since Dwight and I first started the show back in 2007).

He is a former illustrator, and now, fine artist, and his large and eminently respectable body of work has garnered him legions of dedicated fans (many of whom are his peers).

After more than two decades of working as a professional illustrator, Thomas switched lanes to jump into the collectibles market as a designer and sculptor. That endeavor, too, has been ridiculously successful. (Check out his Ebony Visions series, folks.)

This was a real treat and a coup for us. Blackshear doesn't do an awful lot of interviews, podcast or print. We're honored to have spoken with him. Thanks to him for chatting with us, and thanks to you all for checking it out.

- SWAiN

Podcast Episode 197 :: MICHAEL WM. KALUTA

Click here to listen to the show

Hero moments are pretty easy to come by doing this show. One minute, you're conducting an interview and trying to be professional. The next, a "fanboy unease" comes over you when you realize you're talking to someone whose art you've admired for most of your life.

That happened to me in waves while chatting with Michael William Kaluta.

Since I was a teen, Kaluta has been an artistic hero of mine. I was a fiend for his run on The Shadow with writer Denny O'Neil, all of his short stories at DC Comics, and the stacks and stacks of comic book covers he drew throughout the '70s and '80s.

It was somewhere in those '80s that I rediscovered Mike as a painter and illustrator. He had joined up with a unique quartet of artists that you may have heard of. Yes, that's right — The Studio. Together with Jeff Jones, Bernie Wrightson, and Barry Windsor-Smith, Mike Kaluta made fantasy art history in the New York City loft they all shared on West 26th street. Oh, to have been a fly on their wall.

Much of the above and more is covered in the interview, so settle in. We also get the scoop on what he's working on these days (hint: it involves a certain princess on a certain planet in our solar system). Here's the one and only — Mike Kaluta!

- SWAiN

**And here is a link to the Alan Parsons Project's video for "Don't Answer Me". Mike did design and concept work on it.

Podcast Episode 196 :: Back in the Clubhouse

Click here to listen to the show.

The Los Bros SiDEBAR are indeed back in the clubhouse!

It's been a hot minute since we've done a good ol' fashioned Roundtable and chopped it up casual-like, so here goes:

First, we mention Dragon*Con, which will invade the ATL next week from August 31 through September 3, 2012. Next, we three offer reflections on the passing of comics great Joe Kubert (Sgt. Rock, Enemy Ace, Tarzan). Swain and Dwight offer a review of 'The Dark Knight Rises' (which I still haven't seen... I know, I know...). Then, I take point to examine the 'Legendary Failure' of Thomas Peak and the incredibly dubious tale of his hardcover collection of the career of his father, famed illustrator Bob Peak.

Lastly, we cap things off with:

That's right! The SiDEBAR Bicentennial is nearly upon us. It promises to be a Treasury-Sized Anniversary Spectacular and we want the 'Nation to join us in the celebration. Listen in to find out how YOU can get on the air and help us ring in the occasion in style!

-ADRiAN 

Podcast Episode 195 :: CRAIG ELLIOTT

Click here to listen to the show

Today, we've got artist, illustrator, animator, architect, sculptor, and now jewelry designer, Craig Elliott. (I know, enough already!) Dwight and I have been big fans of the guy's work for years, met him in person at Spectrum Live, and he was totally amenable to coming on the podcast and chatting with us.

Craig’s clients include Disney, Dreamworks, Blue Sky, and Nickelodeon. Films he's worked on: Hercules, Mulan, The Emperor’s New Groove, Flushed Away, and The Princess and The Frog (just to name a few).

You can view his printed work in the esteemed pages of the Spectrum annuals, as well as in his new art book: The Art of Craig Elliott. Said art book is available right now through its publisher, Flesk Publications, and we encourage you to go and scoop one up today. It's good stuff!

Craig covers quite a bit in our conversation with him about his background, training, his professional choices, and his thoughts on art and being multi-faceted. He was a delight to talk to, and we hope you enjoy listening in.

- SWAiN

Podcast Episode 194 :: JASON FELIX

Click here to listen to the show

What can be said about Jason Felix (pardoning the obvious pun) is that he is "that cat'" In fact, a wonderfully talented cat who has worn many hats artistically in his eighteen year career.

The roll call of companies he has worked for is voluminous: Electronic Arts, Blur Studio, Hasbro Inc, Wizards of the Coast, Del Rey, Lucas LTD, Atari, Broderbund Software, The Learning Channel, Mattel, Sega, TSR, Upper Deck, White Wolf Studios... to name a few. And he has often done so in capacities that most seasoned vets seldom have the opportunity to.

I first met Jason at WonderCon back in 2004, while he was working on the upcoming StarCraft Ghost video game. He was an affable guy, very giving of his time, and not to mention, the first concept artist of regard I had ever spoken with. We talked about his work with Christopher Shy and how much those collaborations emboldened me to renew my own artistic pursuits.

And as much as I perpetually go on about the 2005 ConceptArt workshop being a catalyst for my personal growth, my conversations with Jason have been equally influential on the kind of talk that ultimately became SiDEBAR. So, having him officially join us on the podcast feels very much like home to me.

It was an entertaining and inspiring chat, 'Nation. Hopefully you'll agree.

-DWiGHT

**Below are two frames taken from the opening title sequence of the David Fincher film "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo". Felix was contracted to work on the sequence through his associates at Blur Studio.

Podcast Episode 193 :: Spectrum Fantastic Art Live (2012) - The Recap

Click here to listen to the show

We finally did it! Dwight and I finally sat down and culled together all of our memories from Spectrum Live. Twas a huge undertaking, too. Especially considering our brains were still blown by (not only) the incredible amount of art we saw, but also, at how positive the whole experience was.

SFAL was a lot like a 'fantastic art nuclear bomb' going off in the middle of Kansas City (I'm not kidding). And yet there wasn't an ego in the house, folks — art was the star of the show. Everyone in attendance was there to have fun, buy and sell some amazing art, connect with other amazing artists, and just soak up the vibe.

I called the whole weekend magical once before and I'll do it again here. Hope you enjoy the recap.

(And 2013, you better watch your ass 'cause we're coming back!)

- SWAIN

**Once more, we gotta thank Arnie and Cathy for bringing us aboard for this first year event. We had a ball. They were both guests on SiDEBAR back in October of 2008 and it was pleasure to finally meet them in person. Also, thanks to the Spectrum Live staff and all the volunteers. They rocked! And as it pertains to this episode, many thanks to the talented folks who kindly jumped on the mic with us: Tyler Davis, Bregelle Whitworth-Davis, Scott Quick, Travis Lewis, Jason Felix, Kristina Carroll, Kirk DouPonce, and Ron and Vanessa Lemen.

The image to your right was captured by Irene Gallo at the live award show on Saturday night. That's "Phaedroid" performing (Andrew Jones and Phaedra).

The Art of HOWARD CHAYKIN - A Review

Upon my return from HeroesCon 2012 this past weekend, I discovered a package on my doorstep. After months of delays and anticipation. the package contained my copy of 'The Art of Howard Chaykin' hardcover from Dynamite Publishing. As a huge fan of Chaykin's work, I pre-ordered the book shortly after our conversation with Howard last year. I couldn't wait to see what was inside.

That said, I suppose I will get the 'bad' out of the way first. The foreword by Brian Michael Bendis was weak. Outside of their common Jewish background and the fact that they worked on issues of 'Avengers' together in the recent past, nothing Bendis wrote remotely served as a compelling preface to the retrospective of a lengthy career such as Chaykin's. Inside the book, the layout and design seem haphazard. The prose, arranged in three vertical columns, was unattractive and occassionally hard to follow; much unlike the crisp examples of Chaykin's sequential work featured therein. Perhaps most disappointing were certain sections of anecdotes by peers and former assistants. Some are simply ineffectual (Khoi Pham?!). Others were simply generic lip service. And a couple were very lacking given their relationship with Chaykin (Walt Simonson).

Now for the 'good': THE ART! There is plenty of work featured here that I have never seen before. Scores of Chaykin's commercial art and book covers from the late 1970s and early 1980s are presented with nice crisp scans and vibrant color. Chaykin's sequentials and miscellaneous inked work are presented in sharp b&w scans. The urbane and sexy sophistication of his American Flagg!, Time2, and Shadow art pop off the page. As a Chaykin fan(atic), I've seen countless repeats of many images in various articles and magazines over the years. So it was a nice surprise to see loads of new images that really demonstrate Chaykin's accomplished dexterity between mediums in his career. In contrast to the anecdotes I previously mentioned, the sections written by Dean Haspiel and Ken Bruzenak were excellent and well worth the read.

Lastly, the last third of the book contains an excellent gallery with full page selections of Chaykin's more recent work within the last decade. Add to that a comprehensive, alphabetical checklist of comics, book covers, albums plus more and you have a decent ending to the volume.

While this collection was not without some wholly unnecessary elements, I do think it is a fantastic book worth the purchase. Moreover, I'm satisified to finally see a retrospective of one of my all-time favorite creators on my bookshelf.

-ADRiAN       

Podcast 191 :: Spectrum Fantastic Art Live (2012) - JAMES GURNEY

Click here to listen to the show

This panel took place on the main stage at SFAL on Sunday morning. It was the day after the live awards show at the Midland Theatre where our friend James Gurney was awarded the Spectrum Grandmaster Award. Dwight and I were both there to see James win, heard his very gracious speech, and couldn't have been happier that he was being honored.

Jim Gurney is not only an outstanding artist and writer with a huge body of work, but a teacher and lecturer who remains fiercely supportive of the fantastic art community. It was nothing short of moving to see him get a standing ovation from a room full of his peers (many of whom are also fans).

Oh! And a special thank you to everyone who attended the panel. I know Jim felt the love, and the Q & A portion was exceptional, folks.

- Swain

**James Gurney was a guest on this podcast back in February of 2010.

The picture up top was taken by Janet Schroeder of Rock A Baby Photography. The shot to your right is the property of Irene Gallo and was captured at the awards show. Thanks to both of these ladies.

Podcast Episode 190 :: ARTHUR ADAMS

Click here to listen to the show

The chat of all chats is up and available in our free feed: Arthur Adams. Longshot, Uncanny X-men, New Mutants, Fantastic Four, Monkeyman and O'Brien, Ultimate X — you know his hits! Arthur joined us on the mics and we had an absolute blast with him.

In the interview, we cover some background, breaking into comics, working on Longshot and the much-talked about Speculator Boom of the late '80s.

Also, Arthur gives us his take on drawing fast vs. drawing good, his love of Godzilla and monsters, and the "rarefied air he breathes" as a sought-after illustrator who still wants to make comics.

Adams gave it all up and cracked us up while he was doing it, too (something we didn't expect). Our thanks to him for taking the time out to come on the show.

**There's a little Easter Egg at the end of this one. Don't miss it!

The picture above was taken by Eddy Choi at Wondercon earlier this year. We thank him as well for letting us use it.

Podcast Episode 189 :: Spectrum Fantastic Art Live (2012) - PHIL HALE

Click here to listen to the show

Phil was one of the special guests at Spectrum Fantastic Art Live and I had the honor of moderating this panel with him. I was a little nervous, too. We had interviewed him on the podcast recently, but this was my first time meeting him face-to-face. I noticed a couple things about him right out of the gate:

1) Phil is a lot taller in person than he looks in pictures. I thought he was my height. Not so much! He's easily over six feet.

2) He was super nice. Not that I expected him to be an ogre or anything. But the man creates such provocative and moving images, I guess I thought he'd be all serious and what not. And to some extent he was. For the most part though, he was approachable and friendly, and very much a regular guy just there to hang out.

The panel took place on Friday (the first official day of the show) and it was well attended. I asked a few starter questions, then we opened it up for Q & A. Hope you enjoy the audio.

- SWAiN

**Our unending thanks to Cathy and Arnie Fenner, the founders and organizers of Spectrum Fantastic Art Live, for inviting us to be a part of their event. It was a magical weekend.

Podcast Episode 188 :: NIC KLEIN

Click here to listen to the show

Nic Klein has the goods, baby. He draws his ass off, paints traditionally and digitally, and he friggin’ rocked it on Viking, his 2009 Image Comics mini-series with writer Ivan Brandon (Secret Invasion, NYC Mech). Oh. And he’s about to do it again with his next book, Dancer. 

We've never met Nic face-to-face, but we know people who know him. He hails from Germany (Kassel, to be exact), and is pals with former Marvel Comics exclusive artist Marko Djurdjevic. As a matter of fact, Nic was part of the staff for Marko’s MADE symposium back in 2010. In the interview, he tells us all about the experience and doesn’t spare any of the funny bits. HIGH-larious!

Nic is also boys with Wizard of Oz artist Skottie Young. Skottie told me in an email that Nic was the first guy he knew of (other than Jon Foster) who could paint digitally and make it look just like his traditional stuff. And Nic all but confirms this in our talk with him.

After a slew of covers for New Warriors and other Marvel titles, and after getting much fan love for the conquering Viking (see what I did there?) — here comes Dancer. Due out tomorrow, it’s an espionage tale (of sorts) with full art by Klein and script by Nathan Edmondson (Who is Jake Ellis, Olympus). We’ve seen the previews and it's really killer. Very different, too, from Nic’s other work.

See, told you he had the goods. You gotta change it up or get stale. Go, Nic.

- SWAiN

**Below is a page of interior art from Nic's new book, Dancer.

Podcast Episode 187 :: THE AVENGERS (a b-side movie review)

Click here to listen to the show

Around these parts, we don't usually do movie reviews. But Marvel's The Avengers was so top notch, and so well done, that we had to make an exception. Joss rocked it, the cast rocked it, and the Siblings had to gush! There ain't much more to it than that, partner.

Excelsior!

**Spoilers a-plenty. Consider yourself warned!

Podcast Episode 186 :: BROM

Click here to listen to the show

Gerald Brom has something in common with Prince, Madonna and Sting. No, he’s not a musician (that we know of). But his art so singularly represents him that one name, his last name, is all he needs to go by, really. And it’s a kick-ass name, too, by the way!

Born here in Georgia, but raised all over the world (a military brat), Brom has gone on in his creative endeavors to become a fantasy writer and artist almost without peer. The author of amazing books like The Plucker, The Child Thief, and his upcoming Krampas the Yule-Lord, his fans are legion. You can count all three of us in that group, too.

In today’s interview, we cover some background on Brom, TSR and life in rural Wisconsin, working traditionally, picking up the writer handle, and everything in between.

Plus, we talk a bit about him being a special guest at Spectrum Fantastic Art Live which is going down in just over a week in Kansas City, MO. We’ll be there as well and hopefully we can grab a beer with the guy. He was awesome.

Can. Not. Wait.

- Swain

**By the way, I'm loving that spiffy jacket he's wearing in this shot!

Podcast Episode 185 :: 20 Years of IMAGE COMICS

Click here to listen to the show

Recently, the fellas and myself realized that this year, 2012, marked the 20th anniversary of Image Comics. In 1992, seven former Marvel artists struck out on their own to make the kinds of books that they wanted to make, and inadvertently started a revolution.

Now I can imagine the eye-rolling going on from those of you who remember chromium covers and every other Image title called Blood (fill-in-the-blank). And that sort of derision is deserved to some extent. But putting aside all the gimmickry, it cannot be denied that Image Comics changed the industry forever in ways, ultimately, for the better.

As you'll hear on the roundtable, back in 1993, it would have taken a triple gatefold cover to contain my excitement for that initial line of Image books. That period was my personal 'Golden Age'. And Swain and Dwight both temper the conversation righteously with some great recollections of those days pulled from their memory banks.

From comic book millionaires to having an underground garage of exotic sports cars, to the direct market crash to becoming a respected independent publisher; we cover the gamut of Image's history — to the extreme.

-ADRiAN

'The Seven' in 1992: (clockwise from left, top row) Erik Larsen, Rob Liefeld, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri, Jim Valentino, Jim Lee and Whilce Portacio.

'The Seven' in 2007 (below).

Naughty and Nice: The Good Girl Art of BRUCE TIMM

Bruce Timm is good, yo. Not great, but really good. And his new book, Naughty and Nice: The Good Girl Art of Bruce Timm, is a worthy purchase for long time fans and new ones. It's obviously a departure from the kinda stuff we're used to seeing him do for Warner Brothers Animation, but it is strong. I had a few problems here and there as my opening line implies, but overall, I'm glad I plunked down my dollars.

Published by the steady and sturdy Flesk Publications, Timm’s tome is a 304 page, full-color, “t & a” extravaganza. Lots of ladies; not a lot of clothing. And that’s actually one of my issues. Playboy Magazine got it right years ago by posing their models with props: shoes, boots, belts, outfits, placing them in environments — what have you. Parlor tricks to elevate the fantasy. They figured out early on that you’ll bore your reader to tears if you just shoot a naked woman.

“Here you go, guys, she’s naked.”

Don't get me wrong, Timm doesn't go for bawdy or lewd. And he draws elegant female characters, for sure. He just didn’t put a lot into some of the set-ups. For my taste, there are way too many shots of girls who are simply, disrobed.

That aside, I have to agree with Adrian on Timm's approach: his color game is always on-point. He made gorgeous choices in the book as far as palette is concerned. Bruce is one of the few guys out there that can make local color come off with real mood and intent.

The introduction for Naughty and Nice was written by the ever humble Jim Steranko and it’s about what you would expect. The word “babe” is used to no end. (As a matter of fact, I think babe is in his title!) Still, it was probably smart for Timm and Flesk to get a nod from a guy like Steranko. This isn’t a book exploring strong, capable women as equals in our society; it’s good girl art. A tip of the hat to an era-gone-by (kinda like Steranko himself).

Overall, I recommend this one. Flesk does a solid job with their art books, and Bruce Timm, despite my crits, has the goods.

- SWAiN

**I meant to review Timm's book earlier this year when it first came out (lazy). And I borrowed the pic above from Parka Blogs. Hope they don't mind.

Podcast Episode 184 :: Deep Focus with Filmmaker ERNEST DICKERSON

Click here to listen to the show

If you listen to this show with any regularity, you know that 1) we are comic book fans, 2) we are art nerds, and 3) we are huge pop culture junkies with an unending fascination for TV and movies. So, of course, a conversation with filmmaker Ernest Dickerson was right up our alley. 

Ernest made his name as a respected cinematographer for years before finally planting himself down in the director’s chair. Brother From Another Planet, Krush Groove and several of Spike Lee’s first feature films (Do the Right Thing, Mo’ Better Blues, Malcolm X) all bear his lush but tasteful style. Dickerson and Lee actually met as students at NYU film school where they became friends and eventual collaborators. 

Ever since his 1992 directorial debut, Juice, which starred then unknowns Omar Epps and Tupac Shakur, Ernest has been “calling his own shots”. And over the last eight years, his presence as a director and storyteller have been felt exclusively on television shows like The Wire, Heroes and Dexter, and more recently on HBO’s Treme and AMC’s The Walking Dead.

Adrian and I chatted with Dickerson at length about his craft, choices, the business as a whole, and the kinds of projects that he would like to produce. And it was like that.

-SWAiN

**Our sincere thanks to Ernest for coming on the show with us. He was awesome! Also, many thanks to his manager Jennifer Levine and storyboard artist Warren Drummond (BFAM) for making this interview happen.

And check for the Easter Egg at the end. We play some "Either Or" with our guest and it ends with a surpising Hollywood horror story.

Spectrum Fantastic Art Live Presents :: ANDREW JONES

This was the piece that brought me fully over to being a fan of Andrew Jones. He am awesome!

See the man at Spectrum next month. See us at Spectrum next month. See tons of original art, prints, sculptures, books, toys, 3D art and more at the show, too. It's gonna be a party, ya'll.

- SWAiN

Our chat with Andrew from November of 2009.

Spectrum Fantastic Art Live Presents :: PHIL HALE

SiDEBAR recorded an interview with this man a few months ago, and if you're attending SFAL next month, he's gonna be there. Click here to go to our new store and download the chat. It was epic (no pun).

Spectrum Fantastic Art Live is going down May 18 - 20 in Kansas City, MO and is a "live" extension of the amazing art annuals that come out every year from Underwood Books. Over a hundred exhibitors, live art, original art, prints, scultures, lectures, discussion pieces and portfolio reviews are just part of what you can expect at the inaugural year for this event. Three-day and single-day memberships are available right now.

Other special guests of the show include Mike Mignola, Andrew Jones, Iain McCaig and BROM. Be there!

Podcast Episode 183 :: Spousal Support

Click here to listen to the show

For every whole, there is a better half. At least we’re sure that’s what that saying is supposed to imply. And that brings us to Spousal Support.

Over the last five years, we have talked to a ton of creators. During that time, we’ve heard tales of incredible triumph, and in some cases, incredible challenge — and everything in between. We thought it would be fun to see, well, how the other half lives. So, we did. We sat down with four women who are married to, and/or, committed to creators and geeks, and had a blast doing it. The chosen four (as it were) were very open, honest and forthcoming, and we think you’ll really enjoy hearing what they had to say. Here they are:

Kellie Warring of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia chatted about life over the last year and a half with her beau, Darren Yeow. Darren is a concept artist and has a company called Stylus Monkey Design. Janis Renzi of Charlotte, North Carolina shared some of her story. She’s married to colorist Rico Renzi, who is also the creative director of the Charlotte-based Heroes Convention. Atlantan Samantha Johnson talked to us about living with none other than our own, Adrian Johnson. Adrian is obviously one of the hosts of this podcast, but is also an artist himself. And last up is Monica Torres, a former New Jerseyian who now makes her home here in Atlanta. Monica is married to Wilfredo Torres, a working comic book artist whose star is on the rise.

Many thanks to these ladies for braving the geek waters and joining us on Spousal Support. We know we have a reputation for being silly and a bit cheeky, and we're pretty sure we maintained that rep solidly throughout all of these talks (ha).

- SWAiN

Spectrum Fantastic Art Live Presents :: IAIN MCCAIG

One of the special guests attending this event that we're as giddy as schoolgirls about finally meeting is illustrator and concept artist Iain McCaig. Iain's work in film includes classics like Terminator II and Interview with a Vampire, as well as more contemporary things like the Harry Potter movies and John Carter. And we're pretty sure at SFAL, he’ll be lecturing and sharing about his film work, and art in general. We've been told the man can inspire like no other!

This is the inaugural year of Spectrum Fantastic Art Live, and if you don't have plans to be there, you need to make some now. Go here to purchase three-day and single-day memberships. They’re still available, folks. 

We had the unique opportunity to interview McCaig back in July of 2010, and if you like, you can download the audio here from our new store. It’ll give you a taste of what you can expect in May.

SFAL is going down May 18 - 20 in Kansas City, MO in the Grand Ballroom of the Bartle Hall Convention Center.