Tag Archives: neil gaiman

Review: Neil Gaiman’s How to talk to Girls at Parties TPB

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Two teenage boys are in for a tremendous shock when they crash a party where the girls are far more than they appear!

From Neil Gaiman—one of the most celebrated authors of our time—and award-winning artists Fábio Moon and Gabriel Bá, this sumptuous graphic novel is not to be missed

How to Talk to Girls at Parties is a coming of age story that has collided with a strange science fiction opera and it’s all bolstered by the social awkwardness of the main character Ein. Of course it is Neil Gaiman, so you expect something weird, well written, and almost ground-breaking in nature. This book doesn’t disappoint in that at all.

Fábio Moon and Gabriel Bá, manage to create a strangely unique place in the everyday world that Gaiman has created. I will admit I loved the brilliant elegance of the “poem,” despite the strangeness of the origin. The artwork manages to highlight some of the stranger but subtle parts of the story well and continues the two’s amazing work.

Story: Neil Gaiman Art: Gabriel Bá, Fabio Moon
Story: 10 Art: 10 Overall: 10 Recommendation: Buy

Dark Horse Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Neil Gaiman: Dream Dangerously Trailer

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Respect! Films has announce that their new film, Neil Gaiman: Dream Dangerously is going to be released on July 8th through Vimeo on Demand. You can check out a trailer for the film and pre-order now.

Dream Dangerously offers viewers a fly-on-the-wall look at Neil on the road, interacting with fans and experiencing the struggles and joys of being an acclaimed public speaker and in-demand personality. At the same time, the film delves deeply into Neil’s writing process, exploring the childhood origins of his love of mythology, up to his struggles to keep his writing fresh after 25 years of successful storytelling.

The film includes unique interviews with Amanda Palmer, George RR Martin, Grant Morrison, Bill Hader, Michael Sheen, Kirsten Vangsness, Lenny Henry, Will Wheaton and many more key figures in Neil’s creative and personal life. Ultimately this is a portrait of one of our most beloved fantasy writers that shows the way that fantasy can be a mirror for the world around us, and for the writer himself.

Preview: Hero Comics: A Hero Initiative Benefit Book

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Hero Comics: A Hero Initiative Benefit Book

Kurt Busiek, Howard Chaykin, Neil Gaiman, Sam Kieth, John Layman, Dave Sim, Bill Willingham, and more (w) • Kaare Andrews, Howard Chaykin, Kevin Eastman, Rob Guillory, Gene Ha, Sam Kieth, Dave Sim, Ashley Wood, and more (a) • J. Scott Campbell (c)

The Hero Initiative provides help when comic book creators are in need, it’s as simple as that. This volume presents an all-star line-up of incredible comic book talent who have come together, donating their time and considerable talents for a good cause. Now, you can do your part—buy this book and help the Hero Initiative continue its noble work!

Featuring dozens of great writers and artists, and many of your favorite series, like American Flagg!, Chew, The Maxx, Jon Sable, Red Star, as well as original concepts, as well as an astounding selection of short “Heroes In Action” stories by more than a dozen creators telling their own firsthand experiences with the Hero Initiative when they needed a helping hand, including Gene Colan, Stan Goldberg, Ralph Reese, and more.

TPB • FC • $19.99 • 128 pages • ISBN: 978-1-63140-608-9

HeroInitiative_BenefitBook-CoverA

Emily Browning Cast as Laura Moon in American Gods

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Emily BrowningStarz and FremantleMedia North America have announced that Emily Browning has been cast as Laura Moon, in the upcoming adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s acclaimed contemporary fantasy novel, American Gods. The series will begin shooting in April.

Browning joins Ian McShane and Ricky Whittle who were recently announced to play Mr. Wednesday and Shadow Moon, respectively, in American Gods. As Laura Moon, Browning plays Shadow Moon’s wife, who has been preparing for her husband’s pending prison release. Little does she know that she will go on an unexpected journey that leads her to an epiphany about her relationship and affords her a second chance to get things right.

A native of Australia, Browning first received international recognition when she was cast as Violet Baudelaire in the 2004 film adaptation of the popular children’s book series, “Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events.”  She received a 2005 Critics Choice Award nomination for “Best Young Actress” from the Broadcast Film Critics Association on behalf of her performance, as well as a 2005 “Best Actress” Award by the Australian Film Institute. She was honored with the “Breakthrough Performer” award at the 2011 Hamptons International Film Festival and received a “Best Actress in a Leading Role” nomination by the Film Critics Circle of Australia, as well as the Australian Film Critics Association for her work in Julia Leigh’s 2011 art-house film “Sleeping Beauty.”  Additional film credits include “God Help the Girl,” Legend” opposite Tom Hardy “Ghost Ship,” “Ned Kelly,” “The Uninvited,” “Stranded,” “Sucker Punch,” “Magic Magic.” “The Host,” “Summer in February,” “Plush” and “Pompeii.”

American Gods has been translated into over 30 languages and earned numerous accolades including Hugo, Nebula and Bram Stoker Awards for Best Novel. The plot posits a war brewing between old and new gods: the traditional gods of mythological roots from around the world steadily losing believers to an upstart pantheon of gods reflecting society’s modern love of money, technology, media, celebrity and drugs. Its protagonist, Shadow Moon, is an ex-con who becomes bodyguard and traveling partner to Mr. Wednesday, a conman but in reality one of the older gods, on a cross-country mission to gather his forces in preparation to battle the new deities.

Ian McShane Cast in Starz’s American Gods

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Premiere Of Paramount Pictures' "Hercules" - ArrivalsStarz and FremantleMedia North America has announced that Ian McShane has been cast as Mr. Wednesday in the upcoming adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s acclaimed contemporary fantasy novel, American Gods. The series will begin shooting in April.

Playing Mr. Wednesday, McShane joins Ricky Whittle, who was recently announced to play Shadow Moon in American Gods.  Mr. Wednesday is a crafty and endlessly charismatic con man, full of perverse wisdom, curious magic, and grand plans. He hires ex-con Shadow Moon to be his bodyguard as he journeys across America, using his charms to recruit others like him as he prepares for the ultimate battle for power.

Acclaimed British actor McShane catapulted to American TV stardom by playing the ruthless frontier kingpin Al Swearengen on Deadwood, for which he was nominated for both Emmy and SAG Awards and won the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Television Drama and the Television Critics Award for Individual Performance.  He also starred in Starz’ The Pillars of the Earth, for which he received a Golden Globe Nomination for Best Actor in a Mini Series.  Across film, he is best known for his portrayal as ‘Blackbeard” in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides and as “Teddy Bass” Sexy Beast. Other television appearances have included Ray Donovan, American Horror Story, and Lovejoy. This year he will appear in Game of Thrones and Dr. Thorne and can be seen in the upcoming films John Wick: Chapter 2, The Hollow Point and Bolden.  McShane is also an accomplished and award-winning stage actor appearing in productions on Broadway, in the West End and Los Angeles throughout his career.

American Gods been translated into over 30 languages and earned numerous accolades including Hugo, Nebula and Bram Stoker Awards for Best Novel. The plot posits a war brewing between old and new gods: the traditional gods of mythological roots from around the world steadily losing believers to an upstart pantheon of gods reflecting society’s modern love of money, technology, media, celebrity and drugs.

Review: Will Eisner’s The Spirit: The New Adventures HC (Second Edition)

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WILL EISNER'S THE SPIRIT THE NEW ADVENTURES HC (SECOND EDITION)The Spirit is one of those enduring characters that not only have outlasted its creator which is a feat in and of itself but inspired tens of thousands of characters made from the same ilk. The fact that Will Eisner’s name carries so much love and respect throughout the industry, is truly unprecedented. I have heard other writers compare him to Jack Kirby and Bob Kane, but no one was quite like Mr. Eisner, as his feel for story and character are very much different than those icons. In all honesty, it truly is a travesty that The Spirit has not been translated into other mediums like the lesser characters it inspired.

After its initial publication, in 1939, it had a long and storied history, some involving controversy with the introduction of the character of Ebony White and some very depressing lows, with the publication, of The Spirit’s adventures involving John Law. The fact that he has appeared in print in just about every decade of the 20th century, speaks to infamy of the character, and how well written it as by Eisner. I really got into the character not from the original archived comic that DC Comics collected back in 2007, but from Jeph Loeb’s and Darwyn Cooke’s highly entertaining one shot involving his encounter with the Dark Knight. Then Dynamite enlisted Matt Wagner for a whole new series which definitely stayed true to Eisner’s original vision.

In this collection, a who’s who of the comic world showed up to tell their interpretations of the character to include Paul Chadwick, Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, Neil Gaiman, Mike Allred, Jay Stephens and many more. Every story is each creator at their peak talents, especially Gaiman’s “The Return of Mink Stole”, which he is particularly adept at, and I wish he wrote more of. Another standout is Chadwick’s” Cursed Beauty”, which definitely reminds of Brubaker’s recently concluded Fade Out and some elements of his Fatale. Moore has contributed various stories to this collection, but the one that stands as my favorite is “Last Night I Dreamed of Dr.Cobra”, which now reading it again has definite influences over his ongoing Providence.

Overall, a strong collection, as it seemed as though every creator stepped knowing who each other was, and how important Eisner’s legacy is. The stories are iconic Spirit at their best, definitely some twists and turns , but always staying true. The art by the varius artists , is a nice contrast in various hues and styles that makes this a must buy. Altogether, if you love crime noir , if you love your heroes dark and brooding, then you will love The Spirit, as well as these creators.

Story: Paul Chadwick, Alan Moore, Neil Gaiman , Mike Allred, Jay Stephens, Denis Kitchen, John Wagner, Mark Kneece, Kurt Busiek, Matt Brundage, Michael Avon Oeming, John Ostrander, Scott Hampton, Dennis Eichorn, Eddie Campbell, Jay Stephens, Joe Lansdale, James Vance, Gary Chaloner
Art: Dave Gibbons, Dan Burr, Daniel Torres, Bo Hampton, Brent Anderson, Laura Allred, David Lloyd, Tom Mandrake, Scott Hampton, Gene Fama, Eddie Campbell, Paul Pope, John Lucas, Gary Chaloner
Story: 10 Art:10 Overall: 10 Recommendation: Buy

Dark Horse provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Ricky Whittle Cast as Shadow Moon on American Gods

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PARK CITY, UT - JANUARY 20: Actor Ricky Whittle poses for a portrait at the photo booth for MSN Wonderwall at ChefDance on January 20, 2013 in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images for Wonderwall)

Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images for Wonderwall

Starz and FremantleMedia North America (FMNA) have announced that Ricky Whittle has been cast as Shadow Moon in the upcoming adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s acclaimed contemporary fantasy novel, American Gods. The series will begin shooting in April.

A native of Oldham, Greater Manchester England, Whittle’s credits include The 100, Austenland, Hollyoaks, Mistresses, NCIS and Holby City. Whittle is the son of former Royal Air Force serviceman Harry Whittle and grew up travelling around the world.  A keen sportsman, Whittle represented England and the United Kingdom at youth level in football and rugby.

American Gods been translated into over 30 languages and earned numerous accolades including Hugo, Nebula and Bram Stoker Awards for Best Novel. The plot posits a war brewing between old and new gods: the traditional gods of mythological roots from around the world steadily losing believers to an upstart pantheon of gods reflecting society’s modern love of money, technology, media, celebrity and drugs. Its protagonist, Shadow Moon, is an ex-con who becomes bodyguard and traveling partner to Mr. Wednesday, a conman but in reality one of the older gods, on a cross-country mission to gather his forces in preparation to battle the new deities.

American Gods is produced by FremantleMedia North America. Bryan Fuller and Michael Green are writers and showrunners. David Slade is directing the pilot and additional episodes. FMNA’s Craig Cegielski and Stefanie Berk are executive producing the series along with Fuller, Green, Slade and Neil Gaiman. Senior Vice President of Original Programming Ken Segna is the Starz executive in charge of American Gods. Starz retains all network pay TV and SVOD rights to the project. FremantleMedia is distributing the series worldwide.

Ricky Whittle is represented by TalentWorks, Creative Artists Management in the UK, and Untitled Entertainment.

Review: Miracleman by Gaiman & Buckingham #6

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MIRACLEMAN2015006CVRThis final issue of “The Golden Age” story is a beautiful, reflective piece. For those who have read Miracleman, it is a poetic closure.

Do not be mistaken, though. Anyone walking into this “fresh” will not be able to appreciate exactly what is happening and may find it an uninteresting, meandering affair.

Following the apocalyptic climax of Miracleman #15 (we use specificity here to emphasize if you have not read it, you should), Miracleman decided to take over the world in order to save it. Neil Gaiman and Mark Buckingham’s run, titled “Book Four: The Golden Age”, explores the world he created. Nine years later, the series has followed different characters to explore where mankind fits into this new world and how life has changed.

This issue, “Carnival”, revisits each of the characters from the previous issues as they attend the remembrance ceremony in London, 1994. Though reflective, Gaiman continues to expand the nuances of this world that make it such a different world from that in which we live. Open and diverse sexuality, the reintegration of extinct species, flying babies and talking animals, London has come a long way. It may seem like whimsical indulgence to a new reader, but for those who have read from the beginning, the world has emerged from the darkness of the “Olympus” storyline and truly become a place of miracles.

One of the best scene features the “spaceman”, a pharmaceutically-powered oracle. Here we see our characters looking back at their losses and see what hope they have for the future. The spaceman, a character so perfectly typical of Gaiman that you could look at a single panel and know who was writing it, provides abstract feedback that prevents the reader from feeling like they are being spoon-fed a “and they all lived happily ever after” conclusion. Instead it promotes thoughtful consideration by both the characters and the reader, making Carnival come to life all the more.

Even Miracleman attends, though it’s only apparent from his color scheme, to seek advice. This story, which has always viewed Miracleman from a reverent distance, revisits his own humanity and uncertainty. This god-like entity, who long ago shed his mortal form, is humanized by Gaiman’s choice to not only admit doubt but seek validation. In the same page, he maintains his superiority as he is the only one who understands the oracle’s abstraction and walks away with clarity. By doing so, Gaiman proves the core elements of Alan Moore’s Miracleman are still present, a chance we have not yet had as the character has been so rarely seen.

Perfectly balanced, reminding us there are always bad apples in society who will long for darkness, the issue is a complete image of the new world. Connecting not only to the violence of “Olympus” as characters still wander the old killing fields, but to the optimism of happy endings discussed in the opening, the last few pages are lovely and healing in their imagery.

Story: Neil Gaiman Art: Mark Buckingham
Story: 10 Art: 10 Overall: 10 Recommendation: Buy

Neil Gaiman’s Troll Bridge to be Adapted by Colleen Doran

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Dark Horse Troll BridgeAs announced last week, Dark Horse Books is releasing Troll Bridge as a beautiful graphic novel adaptation. The tale is from the mind of master storyteller Neil Gaiman, illustrated by artist Colleen Doran.

Based on a story originally published in Gaiman’s Smoke and Mirrors: Short Fictions and Illusions, Troll Bridge is a tragic coming-of-age fantasy masterpiece. The artwork of the inimitable Colleen Doran makes this book a gorgeous new addition to your Gaiman library.

Troll Bridge tells the story of Jack, a young boy whose world was full of ghosts and ghouls, one of which—a ravenous and hideous troll—would haunt him long into manhood. As the beast sups upon a lifetime of Jack’s fear and regret, Jack must find the courage within himself to face the fiend once and for all.

Look for new hardcover editions of Gaiman’s Creatures of the Night and The Facts in the Case of the Departure of Miss Finch in 2016!

Troll Bridge is in stores September 14, 2016.

Moon and Bá Adapt Neil Gaiman’s How to Talk to Girls at Parties

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In June 2016, Dark Horse Books releases How to Talk to Girls at Parties, a new graphic novel adaptation of an award-winning short story from Neil Gaiman by award-winning artists Fábio Moon and Gabriel Bá.

Originally published in Neil Gaiman’s Fragile Things: Short Fiction and Wonders, How to Talk to Girls at Parties quickly became a celebrated work, receiving a nomination for a 2007 Hugo Award for Best Short Story and winning the Locus Award for Best Short Story the same year.

Now Moon and Bá are set to adapt the Gaiman story they were born to draw in a sumptuous graphic novel that is not to be missed.

In How to Talk to Girls at Parties, two teenage boys are in for a tremendous shock when they crash a party where the girls are far more than they appear!

How to Talk to Girls at Parties is in stores June 15, 2016.

How to Talk to Girls at Parties

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