Tag Archives: richard starkings

Colleen Doran, Greg Hildebrandt and Joe Jusko Join Comics for Ukraine

Last week, more than three dozen comic-book writers, artists, colorists, letterers, designers, and editors announced a collection of all-new comic-book stories to raise money to aid refugees in Ukraine. Comics for Ukraine: Sunflower Seeds, the benefit anthology edited by Scott Dunbier, with all proceeds going to Operation USA, surpassed an initial $35,000 funding goal just twelve hours after the campaign launched, with over $113,000 from over 900 contributors raised to date. The book will be full-color, 96 pages, 8 x 12 inches, and available in both hardcover and softcover editions, with hundreds of supporters on day one. As the campaign enters a second week of funding, it is announced that Eisner Award-winner Colleen Doran, legendary illustrator Greg Hildebrandt, and celebrated cover artist Joe Jusko have joined the project.

These three creators join the incredible roster of comics talent assembled for Comics for Ukraine: Sunflower Seeds; united under the mission of providing relief to a war-torn Ukraine, which has suffered attacks from neighboring Russia since late February. There will be multiple versions available: a hardcover with a painted cover by Alex Ross, and softcover versions by Arthur Adams, Dave Johnson, and Bill Sienkiewicz. At press time, stories will be created by a virtual who’s who of writers and artists, including Brent Anderson, Sergio Aragones, June Brigman, Kurt Busiek, Howard Chaykin, Joshua Dysart, Mark Evanier, Emil Ferris, Dave Gibbons, Rob Guillory, John Layman, Gabriel Rodriguez, Stan Sakai, Louise Simonson, Walter Simonson, Chris Sprouse, Jill Thompson, Matt Wagner, Mark Waid, and more.

Apart from hard costs (printing, credit-card fees, marketing, etc.) all of the funds raised by Comics for Ukraine: Sunflower Seeds will benefit the relief efforts in Ukraine in partnership with Operation USA, so while the initial funding goal has been met, continued support will maximize the impact on the lives of those deeply affected by the ongoing war—improving conditions for Ukrainian refugees in neighboring countries via the provision of emergency grants and in-kind material aid. 

Operation USA supports health and education programs to help children and families at home and abroad recover and thrive in the wake of disasters, disease, violence and endemic poverty.  Every day, they strive to meet the needs of under-served and overlooked populations so that future generations may have the tools they need to create meaningful change in their own communities and lives. Working with partners around the world, they empower communities to recover, build resiliency and thrive in the face of pervasive obstacles during a time of unprecedented global need. Since 1979, OpUSA has delivered $450 million in aid to 101 countries.

Comics for Ukraine

Disclosure: The site founder is a part of this project handling some of the marketing for Zoop

Comics for Ukraine Brings Comic Creators Together for a Cause

More than three dozen comic-book writers, artists, colorists, letterers, designers, and editors have announced a collection of all-new comic-book stories to raise money to aid refugees in Ukraine. Comics for Ukraine: Sunflower Seeds is a benefit anthology edited by Scott Dunbier, with all proceeds going to Operation USA. The 96 page graphic anthology will available in both hardcover and softcover editions with multiple cover choices.

The Comics for Ukraine: Sunflower Seeds anthology features an incredible roster of comics talent united under the mission of providing relief to the war-torn Ukraine, which has suffered attacks from neighboring Russia since late February. There will be multiple versions available.

Covers:

  • Alex Ross
  • Arthur Adams
  • Dave Johnson
  • Bill Sienkiewicz

Stories:

  • Kurt Busiek, Brent Anderson, Wade Von Grawbadger, Alex Sinclair, Richard Starkings – New Astro City
  • John Layman, Rob Guillory – New Chew
  • Walter Simonson, Laura Martin, John Workman – New and Exclusive Star Slammers
  • Howard Chaykin, Nitro Yen, Ken Bruzenak – New and Exclusive American Flagg
  • Stan Sakai, Hi-Fi – New and Exclusive Usagi Yojimbo
  • Matt Wagner, Brennan Wagner – New and Exclusive Grendel
  • Mark Evanier, Sergio Aragones, Stan Sakai – New and Exclusive Groo
  • Jill Thompson – New and Exclusive Scary Godmother
  • Louise Simonson, June Brigman, Roy Richardson, Dave Stewart, John Workman – New and Exclusive short story “The Cost of War“
  • Dave Gibbons, Chris Sprouse, Kevin Nowlan, Laura Martin, Todd Klein – New and Exclusive short story “Hardrada“
  • Mark Waid, Gabriel Rodriguez, Dave Stewart, Todd Klein – A new and exclusive short story
  • Emil Ferris – New and Exclusive short story “Bombings“

Additional material by:

  • Joshua Dysart
  • Pia Guerra
  • Peter Kuper

With the exception of hard costs (printing, credit-card fees, marketing, etc.) all of the funds raised by Comics for Ukraine: Sunflower Seeds will benefit the relief efforts in Ukraine in partnership with Operation USA.

Operation USA supports health and education programs to help children and families at home and abroad recover and thrive in the wake of disasters, disease, violence and endemic poverty.  Every day, we strive to meet the needs of under-served and overlooked populations so that future generations may have the tools they need to create meaningful change in their own communities and lives. Working with partners around the world, we empower communities to recover, build resiliency and thrive in the face of pervasive obstacles during a time of unprecedented global need. Since 1979, OpUSA has delivered $450 million in aid to 101 countries.

Check out the cover by Alex Ross below.

Comics for Ukraine: Sunflower Seeds

Disclosure: I am a part of this project and act as the marketing director for Zoop.

Review: Batman: Ego and Other Tales

Darwyn Cooke was an amazing writer and artist and Batman: Ego and Other Tales collects some of his best work. It’s also one of the inspirations for The Batman!

Batman: Ego and Other Tales collects:

  • Batman: Ego
  • Catwoman: Selina’s Big Score
  • stories from Batman: Black and White and Solo

Story: Darwyn Cooke, Paul Grist
Art: Darwyn Cooke, Bill Wray, Tim Sale
Color: Matt Hollingsworth, Dave Stewart
Letterer: Jonathan Babcock, Rick Parker, Richard Starkings

Get your copy now! To find a comic shop near you, visit http://www.comicshoplocator.com or call 1-888-comicbook or digitally and online with the links below.

Amazon
Kindle
Bookshop


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Review: Life is Strange Vol. 4 Tracks

We’re taking part in the blog tour for Life is Strange Vol. 4 from Titan Comics!

Max is trapped in a reality that’s not her own! Max needs to find a way to return to her original timeline.

How is this volume for someone who hasn’t read the first three? Hint. It’s really good and easy to get in to!

Story: Emma Vieceli
Art: Claudia Leonardi
Color: Andrea Izzo
Letterer: Richard Starkings, Jimmy Betancourt

Get your copy now! To find a comic shop near you, visit http://www.comicshoplocator.com or call 1-888-comicbook or digitally and online with the links below.

Amazon
Kindle
Zeus Comics
Forbidden Planet
comiXology
Bookshop

Life is Strange Vol. 4 Blog Tour

Titan Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links and make a purchase, we’ll receive a percentage of the sale. Graphic Policy does purchase items from this site. Making purchases through these links helps support the site

Review: Championess

Championess is based on the true story of Elizabeth Wilkinson, a female bare-knuckle boxer in the 18th century.

Story: Kelly Zekas, Tarun Shanker
Art: Amanda Perez Puentes
Letterer: Richard Starkings, Jimmy Bentancourt

Get your copy now! To find a comic shop near you, visit http://www.comicshoplocator.com or call 1-888-comicbook or digitally and online with the links below.

Amazon
Bookshop

Legendary Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links and make a purchase, we’ll receive a percentage of the sale. Board Game Today does purchase items from this site. Making purchases through these links helps support the site

Preview: Ask For Mercy Season Three #6

Ask For Mercy Season Three #6

Written by Richard Starkings
Art by Abigail Jill Harding
Colored by Abigail Jill Harding
Lettered by Richard Starkings
Purchase

MERCY’S FOLLY
The Final Battle between the Forces of Darkness and the Forces of Light!

Part of the comiXology Originals line of exclusive digital content only available on comiXology and Kindle. Read for free as part of your subscription to comiXology Unlimited, Kindle Unlimited or Amazon Prime. Also available for purchase via comiXology and Kindle.

Ask For Mercy Season Three #6

Kick Off the New Year with a Dozen New Digital Comics

ComiXology has you covered on the first day of the new year with a dozen new digital comics that you can get right now. You can start shopping now or check out the individual releases below!

Bringing Up Babies

Written by Emma Goldrick
Art by Megumu Minami
Purchase

Hope starts working as a live-in housekeeper as a way of proving her worth to her successful family. Upon arriving at the mansion, she’s surprised to meet Ralph Browne, the owner of the estate. He was the boy who tore her dress in the middle of the dance floor in high school! Now she has to live with him? And on top of that, he won’t stop whispering sweet nothings in her ear!

Bringing Up Babies

Comic Book Lettering The Comicraft Way

Written by J.G. Roshell, Richard Starkings
Purchase

68 pages!
From the award-winning Comicraft studio, this full-color, step-by-step guide of comic book lettering tips and tricks is superbly illustrated with two Hip Flask strips – one by Kurt Busiek and Stuart Immonen, and the other by Jeph Loeb and Ian Churchill!

Comic Book Lettering The Comicraft Way

Elephantmen 2260 Vol. 1

Written by Richard Starkings
Art by Axel Medellin
Purchase

Collects ELEPHANTMEN #51-55!

A new arc, a new slim trade paperback format for ELEPHANTMEN, and, at $9.99, a great opportunity for new readers to start reading the book they’ve heard so much about! Jack Farrell is a private detective who never gave a second thought to the Elephantmen-until he was paid to.

Elephantmen 2260 Vol. 1

Elephantmen 2260 Vol. 2: The Red Queen

Written by Richard Starkings
Art by Axel Medellin
Purchase

EVOLUTION! Sahara is in hiding, ready to give birth to Obadiah Horn’s baby. Her father, Joshua Serengheti, is intent on hunting her down to prevent a hybrid child from coming into the world…Hip Flask, Jack Farrell, and Hiromi Kiyoko are perhaps the only people who can stop him. Collects ELEPHANTMEN #58-62.

Elephantmen 2260 Vol. 2: The Red Queen

Elephantmen 2260 Vol. 3: Learning To Be Human

Written by Richard Starkings
Art by Axel Medellin
Purchase

Collects ELEPHANTMEN issues #50, 56, 57, 63 & 64.

Elephantmen 2260 Vol. 3: Learning To Be Human

Elephantmen 2260 Vol. 4: All Coming Evil

Written by Richard Starkings
Art by Axel Medellin
Purchase

There are new transgenics in town and the Elephantmen are due for “retirement.”

Collects ELEPHANTMEN #65-69

Elephantmen 2260 Vol. 4: All Coming Evil

Elephantmen 2260 Vol. 5: Up Close & Personal

Written by Boo Cook, Richard Starkings
Art by Boo Cook, Axel Medellin, Carlos Pedro
Purchase

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL Collects ELEPHANTMEN 2260 #70, 71 & 73-76

Elephantmen 2260 Vol. 5: Up Close & Personal

Elephantmen 2260 Vol. 6: The Least, The Lost & The Last

Written by Richard Starkings
Art by Abigail Jill Harding, Axel Medellin
Purchase

Fallen Soldiers in downtown Los Angeles take Hip Flask and Jack Farrell to a mass grave in the desert, which ultimately leads Hip into a confrontation with his creator, Nikken.Collects ELEPHANTMEN #72, #77-80

Elephantmen 2260 Vol. 6: The Least, The Lost & The Last

Heirate lieber mich! Vol. 4: Brides and Belles

Written by Sharon Kendrick
Art by Kazuko Fujita
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Ich erhebe Einspruch gegen die Ehe!” Erin zitterte, als seine Stimme durch die Hochzeitskapelle hallte. Dimitri Makarov! Der gutaussehende Geschäftsmann ist für zweierlei bekannt: Seine ausgezeichnete Geschäftsführung und seine skandalöse Lebensweise. Wunderschöne Frauen, Wettspiele, rebellisches Verhalten – er fügt sich der gefahrvollen Verführung. Erin war einst seine Sekretärin und verbrachte eine Nacht mit ihm. Er sagt, es sei ein schwerwiegender Fehler, also verschwindet sie, mit seinem Kind im Bauch. Jetzt, sieben Jahre später, ist er wieder da. Ausgerechnet auf ihrer Hochzeit!

Heirate lieber mich! Vol. 4: Brides and Belles

Her New Year Baby Secret

Written by Jessica Gilmore
Art by Rie Nakamura
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Pursuing her dream of becoming a designer, Sophie dedicates her life to work. One snowy day, she bumps into dreamy Italian gentleman Marco, who offers her a high-end cashmere coat. For just one night, she lets herself indulge…

When she is presented with the opportunity to see the textiles and craftsmanship Venice has to offer, she can’t help but say yes, but a little secret threatens to interrupt this vacation…

Her New Year Baby Secret

The Italian’s Christmas Child Vol. 1: Christmas with a Tycoon

Written by Lynne Graham
Art by Shion Hanyu
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When Holly gets into a predicament one stormy Christmas Eve, a man named Vito helps her out and offers her a place to stay at his villa. He’s clearly wealthy, and she’s just a waitress… They have nothing in common, so why can’t Holly take her eyes off him? Finally, in the face of Vito’s powerful desire, Holly offers herself to him, a gift she’s never given to anyone else. The next day, she quickly puts the villa behind her, afraid of a cold morning-after treatment. It doesn’t occur to her for an instant that she might be carrying his child…

The Italian's Christmas Child Vol. 1: Christmas with a Tycoon

Rendez-vous galant avec mon boss

Written by Barbara Hannay
Art by Sae Nanahoshi
Purchase

Afin de se libérer de sa famille étouffante, Sally quitte la campagne pour Sydney. Elle trouve alors un boulot de secrétaire chez Black Corporation. Mais voilà que, de façon assez surprenante, elle se retrouve à enseigner la valse à son boss, Logan Black ! Ils sont seuls, rien que tous les deux, dans la salle de réunion… Elle sait qu’elle ne devrait pas, qu’elle n’est pas ce qu’il recherche, mais l’attirance est bien là. Et dans ses bras, la musique l’ennivre, et les rares sourires de Logan lui font tourner la tête.

Rendez-vous galant avec mon boss

This site contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links and make a purchase, we’ll receive a percentage of the sale. Graphic Policy does purchase items from these sites. Making purchases through these links helps support the site.

Early Review: The Orville #3 – Heroes Part 1

The Orville #3

Light Spoilers to Follow…

Dark Horse transport readers back into space with another two-part adventure featuring the voyages of the starship Orville. In The Orville #3 – Heroes Part 1 the inhabitants of a planet known only as HR 5070 have developed advanced technologies that should be far beyond their grasp. The Okudum should not possess the means to create a quantum reactor, yet after scans clearly show the presence of such a device, the crew of the Orville is sent to investigate.
Each of these Orville stories gives fans background information of certain members of the Orville’s crew. In Heroes, it’s Ensign Talla who’s history is expanded on. She’s an expert on the Okudum and the alien race holds a special place in her heart.

In my opinion, these Orville comics aren’t writer David A. Goodman’s best work. This is the second one I’ve read, and for the second time, I’ve gotten the sense he’s just missing the point of the show. I don’t feel that these Orville comics are a good adaptation of the FOX television show. Created by Seth Macfarlane, the TV show is meant to be part parody and part homage. The episodes are humorous while still maintaining the feel of a classic Star Trek story. I find these Orville comics to not only lack humor, but feel that they’re desperately in need of a joke or two. A lighter tone or more action would certainly improve things.

Without the humor or light-heartedness, these comics feel less like a homage and more like a low-quality rip off of both Star Trek and the Orville show. Goodman just doesn’t do enough to capture the voices of the actors when he writes their comic book counterparts’ dialogue. The dialogue of the characters in the comic reads very generically. The dialogue sounds like it could be spoken by anyone, instead of famous actors. Goodman’s scripts also lack the sophistication and emotional tension of a Star Trek episode. In The Orville #3, the character’s in this comic just sit around and talk. There’s no urgency, seemingly no real threat, and the character interactions seem more like co-workers who are forced to work together and not crewmates who must rely on one another to accomplish the mission. It’s not like Goodman doesn’t have source material to pull from between the Orville show and untold episodes of Star Trek. Instead, he comes up with these bland “space procedurals” where the first part is all set up for the second part, except without any excitement or plot twists that make the reader want to buy part 2 and finish the story.

David Cabeza’s illustrations contain a great amount of detail. He’s just as good at drawing an alien landscape as he is at rendering expressive faces. The small details he includes help distinguish different characters and species of alien from one another and give each one their own unique look. Colorist Michael Atiyeh adds depth to these details through shading and shadow. This adds an element of realism to the expressions and physical forms of the characters. I was also impressed by the accuracy of Cabeza’s drawings of the actors who play the Orville characters on the TV show. Seth MacFarlane’s character is especially well done.

Fans of classic Star Trek or the Orville TV show might find something to like about The Orville #3, but there’s not much in this comic to hook most readers. The story is boring, the plot predictable, and the dialogue flat. The artwork is of good quality but doesn’t offer many impressive visuals. Ninety percent of this comic is just people standing or sitting around talking. Goodman has a plethora of sources to pull inspiration from, yet he gives the reader a drama with no real tension. Hopefully one day, Seth Macfarlane can be convinced to consult and punch up the dialogue or story. Otherwise, I find little that would make someone want to buy any of these The Orville inspired comic books.

Story: David A. Goodman Art: David Cabeza
Colors: Michael Atiyeh Lettering: Richard Starkings & Comicraft’s Jimmy Betancourt
Story: 1.0 Art: 6.0 Overall: 3.5 Recommendation: Pass

Dark Horse provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review


Purchase: comiXology – Kindle

Ask For Mercy continues with Season Three: A World of Disquiet Available Tomorrow from ComiXology Originals and Comicraft

Look up! Space squids and space whales are overhead. The apocalypse has arrived in Season Three of Ask For Mercy written by Richard Starkings (Elephantmen, The Beef) with art by rising star Abigail Jill Harding. Issue #1 of the hit comiXology Originals series and Comicraft’s #1 monster comic is available on August 11th.

In Ask For Mercy Season Three: A World of Disquiet it’s 2023 in Leeds, England and the apocalypse is here. A great evil has befallen the world. Strange squids and whales appear in the sky above cities all over the Earth. While Mercy and Ratmir fight monsters on the street, they meet a young girl named Becky and are charged with looking after her. Is there more to Becky than meets the eye? Is she the key to peace and saving the humans?

Previous volumes of Ask For Mercy include:

Ask For Mercy Season One: The Key To Forever—A World War II fantasy horror story in which Mercy is snatched from her own place and time to join a team of Monster Hunters, who together, have to take on a Pantheon of Hideous Creatures summoned to our world by Nazi evil.

 Ask For Mercy Season Two: The Heart of the Earth—Kasa takes Mercy, Ratmir and Budgie on an adventure where the course of history is at stake! Summoned by Lakota shaman, Medicine Bear, Mercy and her band of monsters discover that Ikto’mi, the Spider-trickster, is interfering with the lives of the people of the Black Hills and the American soldiers intent on driving them out!

Ask For Mercy Season 3 #1

Part of the comiXology Originals line of exclusive digital content, all three seasons of Ask For Mercy are available to read at no additional cost for members of Amazon Prime via their Prime Reading benefit, Kindle Unlimited, and comiXology Unlimited and for purchase on Kindle and comiXology. Prime Reading offers all Amazon Prime members a rotating selection of thousands of top Kindle books, magazines, short works, comic books, children’s books, and more – all at no additional cost. Kindle Unlimited offers over 1 million titles, thousands of audiobooks, and select current issues of popular magazines for just $9.99 a month with a 30-day free trial. ComiXology Unlimited now offers over 25,000 comics, graphic novels, and manga for just $5.99 a month with a 30-day free trial.

ComiXology Original Elephantmen 2261 Season 3 Goes Documentary

Are you ready for the Elephantmen documentary? It’s coming your way—in Season 3 of the acclaimed comic book series written by Richard Starkings, with art by Axel Medellin, featuring covers by Boo Cook. Available from comiXology Originals, Elephantmen 2261 Season 3: Theo Laroux Meets The Elephantmen debuts on July 7, 2020.

In Elephantmen 2261 Season 3: Theo Laroux Meets The Elephantmen, British documentarian, Theo Laroux is making a documentary about the Elephantmen. Laroux arrives in California to begin interviews. He seeks out SKYCAB driver Miki in an effort to understand her apparent infatuation with one of the more well-known Elephantmen, Hip Flask and asks for her help in making the introduction to his first subject: LAPD Lieutenant Trench. Trench is a no nonsense, one-eyed zebra/human hybrid who takes him on a ridealong on the darker side of Los Angeles, 2261. But has Laroux unwittingly stumbled upon another story with much broader implications for all the Elephantmen?

Elephantmen 2261 is available upon release, at no additional cost, for members of Amazon Prime, Kindle Unlimited, and comiXology Unlimited, and for purchase on Kindle and comiXology. Prime Reading offers all Amazon Prime members a rotating selection of over a thousand top Kindle books, magazines, short works, comic books, children’s books, and more – all at no additional cost. Kindle Unlimited offers over 1 million titles, thousands of audiobooks, and select current issues of popular magazines for just $9.99 a month with a 60-day free trial. ComiXology Unlimited now offers over 25,000 comics, graphic novels and manga for just $5.99 a month with a 60-day free trial.

Elephantmen 2261 Season 3: Theo Laroux Meets The Elephantmen
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