We're thrilled to bring you the first interview conducted by our good friend Adam Orchekowski with an upcoming Acme hero, Crogan's Vengeance and Crogan's March creator Chris Schweizer!
If you enjoy the interview, let Adam know on the message board (he's 50 Tooth Slim) and come by and let Chris know during his signing on March 13th for March Madness 2010!
My first exposure to Michael Avon Oeming was reading Hammer Of The Gods several years ago. Upon buying the first issue of it, I noticed the unique art style and immediately loved it. It was also about this time that Powers was gaining a lot of momentum; getting lots of attention in the comics business for it's unique writing and equally unique art. I began reading Powers and soon found myself reading anything Michael Oeming did. Acme Comics has a unique presence on the Jinxworld Forums and it was there that I was presented with an opportunity to interview Taki Soma and Michael Avon Oeming regarding their new mini-series Rapture and their comics work in general.
In what certainly can't be called an interview...perhaps a meeting of the minds or a moment between friends, Jermaine Exum and Spider-woman and Powers writer Brian Michael Bendis have a sitdown at HeroesCon 2009.
During one of my frequent visits to Jinxworld.com, I noticed a post from DC Comics super-star artist Ethan Van Sciver that was unique. Instead of talking about his latest project or social issues, Ethan posted to promote the comics work of his younger brother, Noah Van Sciver. It was a brief strip written and drawn by Noah about being related to a famous comic book artist. I don't claim to be an expert on independent comics, but I know a little bit. And I also know what I find unique, what I like. I thought the strip was as funny in its presentation as it was true, from what I have seen firsthand at comic conventions. The art reminded me of Peter Bagge in that is was abstract yet very consistent in style.
I asked Ethan to forward my contact information on to his brother, which he happily did. Next thing you know, we're talking back and forth. Then Noah is sending us comics to put on the shelves which sell out, and then he's sending us more. So if not for Ethan's post, I wouldn't have had the privledge of reading Noah's comic Blammo and making them available to Acme Comics customers halfway across the country. And I got to talk at length with a really cool guy, too. But enough about Ethan, let's talk with Noah.
We wrap our coverage of Marvel March Madness and kick off the advent of the Acme A-List with our good friend Jennifer Grünwald! It only seems appropriate as Jen becomes the first industry professional to be interviewed for a third time on Acme Comics.com (and all in six months, no less)!
I also want to take this opportunity to once again, on behalf of the store, encourage everyone to sponsor Jen in this year's AIDS Walk New York!
One of the best things to happen for comics fandom is the internet. Through the internet, like-minded fans can communicate with each other, or in some cases disagree, where in the real world there may be no one to share such thoughts with. Another innovation of the internet is the podcast. Through this new medium fans can listen to other enthusiasts discuss and review material or even hear from the creators themselves as they are interviewed. Many times that creator's voice is heard by the fans for the very first time! All possible through the miracle of the podcast. One outstanding podcast has separated itself from the pack in quality and credibility, and that is the Word Balloon podcast as conducted by John Siuntres. Some of you wil have listened to the Word Balloon podcast before, but now its time to turn the tables and put John in the hot seat.
Several years ago while filing away Daredevil comics, issue #27 to be specific, I stopped to read it after a long hiatus away from the series. The writing was different from anything else I'd ever seen and I was totally sucked in! Meanwhile there was a series on the shelf called Ultimate Spider-man and I was totally against it. Fought and thrashed about, especially over the Green Goblin. Until the Goblin returned for the second time and the scope of his dementia was revealed during a confrontation with Spider-man. From that point forward, I never failed to read an issue. Somewhere in there I checked out an issue of an Image Comics series called Powers, issue #7 where a graphic novel writer named Warren Ellis makes the mistake of doing a ride-along with two detectives and ends up in the center of a super-powers related hostage situation. Again, the writing was unlike anything I'd ever seen before. There was a common thread uniting these titles that had all of a sudden become must-read series for me. A name common to these series, Brian Michael Bendis.
Jermaine Exum: Hi Tom. You’re best known for a very special comic series called True Story Swear to God. I first discovered it because you’re a member of Jinxworld.com, but for those that are not already familiar with it, how did it begin and how did it change?
Tom Beland: It began as a weekly comic strip in my hometown newspaper back in Napa Valley, California. I was a huge fan of Keith Knight’s K Chronicles, when it was appearing in the Pacific Sun Paper. I met Keith at a convention and he encouraged me to do my own autobiographical strip.
Along with the new look and features at AcmeComics.com, we're going to be presenting exciting new interviews with comics professionals! For the first of the new interviews, we have the honor of speaking with Brian Reed, the writer of Marvel's ongoing Ms. Marvel monthly series and the brand new Captain Marvel mini series!
Mr. Reed also co-wrote the acclaimed Spider-woman Origin mini series and the break out hit New Avengers Illuminati mini series. A true man-of-two-worlds, Brian Reed also has a foot in the world of video games and wrote for Mercenaries 2 and the popular Ultimate Spider-man game.
