Ice Age Continental Drift

Blue Sky Studios and 20th Century Fox HomeEntertainment present the latest adventures of Sid the Sloth, Manny and the other memorable characters of Ice in their newest 3D animated adventures: Ice Age Continental Drift.

When Manny, Diego and Sid are separated from their herd on an iceberg they travel the Seven Seas where the meet sea monsters, pirates and (shutter) Sid’s grandmother!  High seas hi-jinx ensues as everyone’s prehistoric favorites once again turn disaster into laughter.

The new Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy Combo also includes some pretty ‘cool’ extras like sing-a-longs, deleted scenes, music videos, featurettes and so much more.

So, all aboard for the biggest holiday release of the year!

The Complete Calvin And Hobbes

I love cartooning.  One of my skills as a graphic designer is that I can cartoon.  I still cartoon.  I now teach high school drawing and dedicate a whole section on cartooning.

I love comic books but I especially love newspaper comic strips.  At one point I had high hopes of being a newspaper cartoonist.

Three comic strips had/have the biggest influence on me: Peanuts, Bloom County/Opus and my absolute favorite—Calvin And Hobbes.

The strip starred precocious and mischievous six year old Calvin and his imaginary friend Hobbes the tiger personified by his stuffed toy tiger.

Together the duo would embark on some of the most imaginative and outrageous adventures imaginable laced with sardonic views of growing up, grownups, school and life in general.

Bill Watterson, the creator and artist of Calvin And Hobbes, imbued the strip with a sense of wonder as seen through the eyes of a young boy.  Watterson’s art captured the innocence of childhood and yet lent itself to depicting some of the most elaborate scenarios as imagined by young Calvin.

The strips’ timing was impeccable and the word play between the two main characters was both funny and poignant.

Andrews McMeel Publishing has gathered ALL of the Calvin And Hobbes daily and Sunday strips into a handsome four volume soft cover collection that is sure to please any comic strip or Calvin And Hobbes fan.

Bill Watterson provides an insightful introduction where he talks about what inspired to create the strip as well as his talent for peering into the mind of a precocious six year old.  Although the strip ran a mere 11 years from 1985 to 1996 until Watterson’s retirement, Calvin And Hobbes still remains a huge favorite of comic strips.

The Art Of Rise Of The Guardians

One of the most unusual and imaginative 3D animated films to come down the pike in some time is Rise Of The Guardians.

In the film the well-known imaginary figures of Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, the Sandman, Jack Frost  and the Tooth Fairy take on startling new visages as guardians of humanity.

The lushly rendered film features some of the most beautiful character and scenery designs seen in any film and the story, while aimed at kids, is every bit as entertaining to adults.  I predict this film will become a classic.

Actor Alex Baldwin, who provides the voice of Santa Claus in the film, introduces The Art Of Rise OF Guardians as written by Ramin Zahed and published by Titan Books/ Insight Editions.

Like the film the book is exquisitely illustrated with stills and art taken from the film.  Concept drawings, color studies, character designs, the various lands and accompanying transportation vehicles, weapons, and equipment and so on are shown both in their development stage and as final renderings.

The deluxe hardbound book is a gallery filled with gorgeous art, sketches, production art and insightful text about the film and its many challenges to produce.

As an artist I am blown away at the sheer technical scope of the film as chronicled by the book.  I recommend this book to anyone interested in animation and film production.  And to top it all off-it’s just plain fun to look at!

Trouble With The Curve

Clint Eastwood stars as a crusty and cantankerous baseball scout who must content with his fading career, a estranged daughter who joins him on what may be his final scouting trip and rival up and coming baseball scout, Justin Timberlake, who has eyes on Eastwood’s job and his daughter.

Eastwood proves that his still has what it takes to star in a film about family, aging and the challenges of life and what it means to has purpose in one’s life.

The new Blu-ray/DVD/Ultraviolent Combo Pack from Warner Bros. includes extras such as an interview with Eastwood and the film’s director as they talk about twenty years of making films together and fellow stars discuss their identification with their characters.

For a good old fashioned film with a message performed by top talent, both old and new, be sure to check out Trouble With The Curve-it’s more than a game-it’s about life and living.

Alter Ego #114, December

Twomorrows Publishing presents a very special issue of Alter Ego focusing on writer/artist Don Ricco. The red, white and blue Avenger: Captain America! tackles Hitler on the cover.



Don Rico is interviewed and his wife Michele Hart chats about her fond memories of her talented husband.  Included in this issue are illustrations of many of the characters Don worked on over the decades




Golden Age artist Allen Bellman is remembered--specifically for his Captain America art.  Timely/Marvel's peerless publisher Martin Goodman's unlikely career in show business is spotlighted.  Discover The Invaders issue that nearly was and muscleman Charles Atlas is rediscovered.


Comic book fans say goodbye to John Celardo, Tony DeZuniga and Ernie Chan and here comes Captain Video!

Fangoria #319, January

Fangoria magazine keeps an eye out for Socket To Me, Django is Unchained in a Spaghetti Western Redux and the Texas Chainsaw is even scarier in 3D. 

Monster Invasion asks, "What Were They Thinking?" making a Carrie musical, the pursuit of fame kills in The Black Dahlia Haunting, witness a sober sucker in Blood For Irina, vengeance rules Christmas in Silent Night, the underground offers some sensation in Crawlspace and Swede teeth Wither.

Traci Lords is given praise, Paranormal Activity practices success, Anthony Hopkins is Hitchcock, Lesleh Donaldson learns It's Her funeral and Tarantino is unchained. The Omega Man returns, Hansel and Gretal hunt witches. Dales moves to the dark side and beware The Heart Of Darkness.

Avengers #1 And Thunderbolts #1

Two new superhero group titles have just been released by MarvelComics under its Marvel Now! relaunch.

Both feature well-know Marvel characters but there the similarities end.

In Avengers #1 a mysterious super-being and his entourage have terra-formed Mars into a lush green garden.  His/their intent is to recreate mankind in their own image and populate the planet.  If the current members of mankind get in their way-oh well.

The Avengers investigate and have their rear ends thoroughly kicked.  The Avengers are captured, except for Captain America who is sent back to Earth as a sort of a warning to Earth to show that even mighty  Avengers cannot stop what is about to happen.  

Captain America has other plans though and taking his inspiration from a conversation he and Ironman had earlier he enlists a new team of Avenger s to face the new challenge.

Writer Jonathan Hickman and artist Jerome Opena (who turns in some killer art) join forces to reintroduce The avengers to the comic book community.  Harkening back to the early days of the original Avengers the new series brings back the majesty and excitement generated by the original Avengers titles when it was introduced nearly 50 years ago.

While The Avengers represent the status quo and law and order the Thunderbolts are another matter.

General Ross (the Red Hulk) has assembled a ragtag team of misfits, bad boys, and girls, to take the fight to the bad guys with no restrictions.

The new team is out to eradicate crime and criminals using any means necessary.  It’s down and dirty time courtesy of Daniel Way and Steve Dillon and it all starts in Thunderbolts #1.

Merry Christmas!?