I AM SPEECHLESS!

There's little I can say with the few monosyllabic words that were left in my head after what happened blew my mind. On his latest e-mail Sal Abbinanti, Alex Ross' art dealer, his model for Shazam and writer/artist of the awesome indie comic, Atomika, told me he'd send me some swag for all the hard work I'm doing on this site and because he's a really cool guy. I thought I'd get t-shirt and such but, oh no. Sal went above and beyond. He sent me what you see in the photo, The Absolute Justice hardcover, the 2009 San Diego Comic-Con sketchbook and that kick-ass letter, which you can see below. Awesome!

Thanks Sal, you're truly a class act!


Don't expect any more updates this week, I'll be recuperating from the shock I had when I received these presents. My doctor said to take it easy or I'll have a heart attack. LOL, just kidding!

STATUES & BUSTS: part 6

EARTH X BUSTS: To cover this big line of busts and statues, let's cover the ones sculpted by Alex Ross first.

LOGAN: This was the first bust of this line. Completely designed, sculpted and painted by Alex, it sets the bar pretty high for this line.
Since the Earth X Wolverine was a fat slob and nobody would like that statue, Alex used the version of the "Days of Future Past" story line which was incorporated into the Earth X continuity during Paradise X. The detail is astounding! It looks so real and the claws are painted in a chromed-silver hue which makes it metal-like. It's just so real. This bust was limited to 1299 pieces and it can be found (occasionally) on eBay for about US$50 to US$75.



SPIDER-GIRL & VENOM: Designed, sculpted and painted by Alex Ross, these two busts are exactly the same figure only painted differently. The shape of the figure looks a bit off in the chest area but the "veins" on Venom look very creepy and much like the comic version.
These were limited to 5000 pieces and can be found at very cheap prices all over the internet. Hey, I got mine for US$9.99.



DAREDEVIL: Again, designed, sculpted and painted by Alex Ross, this laughing Daredevil is another one of the highlights of this line of busts. Great pose and fantastic metallic paint job makes this one amazing addition to your collection, Earth X fan or not. Limited to a sold-out quantity of 2000 units, this bust is really hard to find and if you do it won't come cheap. People just wouldn't part with this statue because it's THAT cool. So it has become a rare item that can go for up to US$100. If you ever find one that is.





CAPTAIN AMERICA: This incredibly huge and detailed sculpture which measures around 12 in. (30 cm) is a collaborative effort between Alex Ross who designed, painted and partially sculpted the figure and Jarrod Shiflett, who were able to capture every little scar on Cap's body as well as every single thread on the tattered flag/tunic he wears. The level of detail is awesome and because it's the only full-bodied Earth X statue and if you own one you know what I'm talking about. I've seen this statue but don't have the privilege of owning one. If you'd like to have one, expect to pay between US$250 to US$350 if you ever find one in a store or online.
If you want to see more of Jarrod's, and his brother Brian's, work visit: www.shiflettbrothers.com

IN MY COLLECTION: The Logan and Venom busts.

JUST IN: COMICS

I was able to find these variant covers at really cheap prices on eBay and being able to see them up close it's a whole new experience than seeing them as a digital scan. The Batwoman cover is gorgeous with the flow of her cape and the contrast of bright red and purple. The detail on Daredevil's costume and surroundings rocks! I complained that Spidey's cover was too monochromatic yet the motion of the hero and the "tentacles" is unparalleled and makes up for it. The Cap cover is great yet too many characters in it take away some of the impact off it, this cover would work best as a poster.
The big winner in my opinion is the Hulk cover. The colors, the expression on the green giant's face and the level of detail all over this cover makes it absolutely brilliant. Kudos to Alex for a fantastic job on these covers.

STATUES & BUSTS: part 5

SUPERMAN FOREVER STATUE:
Designed by Alex Ross and sculpted by Karen Palinko, this statue perfectly captures Alex Ross' classic image from issue 1 of the comic of the same name. This fantastic bust is 12 inches (30 cm) tall and still retails or can be found on eBay for US$175 to US$200. I really think the sculptress captured the pose perfectly and this is a must-have for any Superman fan, even if they're not Alex fans. The image is that iconic.
Can't afford the price tag? relax, on March, 2010 this fantastic piece of art is being re-released, albeit in a "mini" version. Half the size and a little less than half the price. So there's no excuse now.

FEBRUARY 2010 CALENDAR

Continue supporting this site, buy something from Amazon.com or mycomicshop.com through these links. Thanks!

NEWS: GREEN HORNET INTERVIEW!

Comic Book Resources has published an interview with Alex Ross about where he drew inspiration for his redesign of Kevin Smith's Green Hornet. Here's an excerpt:

"I was going hyper-superhero in my interpretation because the visual medium of comics needs something a bit more flamboyant. That's why a character like Batman thrives in comics where as Green Hornet was always played realistically in his radio shows and his TV show. It's the most realistic superhero show on television, and it seems lost in the confusion by juxtaposition to the Batman TV show produced by the same company back in the '60s."

Read the rest of the interview. Click here.

APRIL 2010 SOLICITATIONS

ASTRO CITY: THE DARK AGE BOOK 4 #4
Written by KURT BUSIEK
Art by BRENT ANDERSON
Covers by ALEX ROSS (50/50 split covers)
This grand finale is the extra-length climax to the biggest Astro City epic ever! The Silver Agent! The Pale Horseman! Lord Sovereign! Honor Guard! Charles and Royal’s quest for vengeance reaches its shattering conclusion, changing their lives – and Astro City’s destiny – forever! With two Alex Ross covers and an extra eight story pages, this is the big one!
Retailers please note: This issue will ship with two covers.
On sale APRIL 28 • 4 of 4 • 48 pg, FC, $4.99 US

THE TORCH #7 (of 8)
Written by ALEX ROSS & MIKE CAREY
Penciled by PATRICK BERKENKOTTER
Cover by ALEX ROSS
A Funeral in Berlin, part 2 of 3
The Torch and Toro explore the city of New Berlin, where Hitler won the war, the Nazi Reich is conquering the world one piece at a time, and the regime's ultimate champion is a man of fire...
32 PGS./Rated T+ ...$3.99



PROJECT SUPERPOWERS: CHAPTER TWO #10
Written by ALEX ROSS & JIM KRUEGER
Art by EDGAR SALAZAR (main story) & DOUG KLAUBA (origin story)
Main Cover by ALEX ROSS
The countdown to issue #12 begins here as the closing volley of Project Superpowers: Chapter Two marches towards its thrilling conclusion! As the team battles Zeus (their former ally, Captain Future), the human populace begins to make a strange transformation into an age-old enemy that will stand revealed and pose an entirely new threat to the heroes. Plus: The Huntsman makes a shocking accusation against the Death Defying ‘Devil! All from Ross, Krueger and Salazar!
32 pages FC $2.99

BLACK TERROR #10
Written by ALEX ROSS & PHIL HESTER
Art by WAGNER REIS
Main Cover by ALEX ROSS
Writer Phil Hester takes the Terror on a thrilling new adventure, joined by new story artist Wagner Reiss and all under the watchful eye of mastermind Alex Ross! “Inhuman Remains” kicks off and will change the world of Bob Benton and his superhero alter-ego, The Black Terror, FOREVER!
32 pages $3.50



KEVIN SMITH’S GREEN HORNET #2
Written by KEVIN SMITH
Art by JONATHAN LAU
Main Cover by ALEX ROSS
The Green Hornet is back, and Dynamite is the new home for the avenging hero and his faithful sidekick, Kato (and, their ride, Black Beauty, ‘natch)! Issue #2
continues the incredible opening blast from Dynamite and Kevin Smith: the original Green Hornet struggles with forces put in motion against him while his son unwittingly becomes a pawn in a world not of his making! Never before seen, this comic adaptation of the unproduced Kevin Smith screenplay is THE comic book event of 2010 (and beyond!) Featuring an incredible array of covers by Alex Ross, John Cassaday, Joe Benitez and Stephen Segovia!
32 pages $3.99

THE GREEN HORNET: YEAR ONE #1
Written by MATT WAGNER
Art by AARON CAMPBELL
Main Cover by ALEX ROSS
The Green Hornet expansion continues as Dynamite presents the original tales of comics’ most iconic hero! Matt Wagner, one of the most creative minds in comics takes the reins, bringing the characters to their basic roots a la All-Star Superman! And Matt Wagner is the man to do it! Rooted in the pulp tradition, the original tales of Britt Reid and Kato begin here! Joining Wagner is artist Aaron Campbell (Sherlock Holmes), whose stunning recreation of the industrial world of 1930’s Chicago is sure to wow fans across the globe! Plus, covers by Wagner, Ross, Cassaday and Segovia!
32 pages $3.99

MY TWO CENTS: Fantastic Astro City covers (and 2 of them this month!) I especially like the one with the space shuttle, it's so realistic. Weird but cool torch cover. Also 2 covers for Green Hornet, how awesome is that, I really enjoy this covers, Alex really goes the extra mile with these ones and I really loved the Hornet as a kid so I'm in geek heaven. Who would've thought that, as cool as they are, the Superpowers covers would be the weaker ones by comparison. ALSO THIS MONTH: Thulsa Doom and a "Meet the Bad Guys" trades with reprinted cover art.

JOYGASM!!!

The day I've been waiting since I started this blog has finally arrived. Read this e-mail I got:

Andres

My name is Sal Abbinanti I rep and run Alex's website.
I love your site and what you do.

Thank you for a great site.

Warmest regards,

Sal Abbinanti

www.alexrossart.com

Yes, you read that correctly, Sal Abbinanti, Alex Ross' art dealer and webmaster is aware of this little, old site and likes it. I mean, he represents THE GUY, so that means that Alex Ross himself knows about this blog you're now reading. WOW!

By the way, in case you didn't know Sal is also the penciller of Atomika (right), an indie comic I've blogged about before in the cover gallery of 2005 and 2006. You should definitely check it out!

Now, I'm going to finish passing out...

KINGDOM COME MOVIE (WHAT IF?)

I love DC Comics' animated movies, I think they're top notch in story and animation and they're easily accessible to anyone young and old. Then, once I heard the rumor that they might do an animated version of Kingdom Come and I thought it would totally suck because the biggest appeal of KC is Alex Ross' art. But, when I saw Robert Zemeckis' Beowulf, a light went off in my head. What if they can translate Alex's art into a 3D environment and get actors to do the motion capture and voice cast regardless of what they look like? (Beowulf actor Ray Wistone looks nothing like his on-screen alter ego). That's my dream project, and I wish I could be the guy writing the script or something but I'll settle for watching this in a cinema someday.


Enter brazilian 3D modeler and designer Kris Costa, whose awesome talent landed him a job at the prestigious Industrial Light & Magic (George Lucas' special effects company). This guy, runs a cool blog/website called Antropus.com, he single-handedly modelled this computer-generated KC Superman. Now, if he did this by himself, I think Mr. Zemeckis (or any other cool director like him) could take a bunch of designers and give us the Kingdom Come movie we deserve. Are you listening newly-formed DC Entertainment (a division of Warner Brothers)? Wise up, guys you're sitting on a gold mine.
My question to all of you guys is, who do you think should play/voice the characters in this movie? Sound off in the comments or drop me a line. I'll give you my choices in a short while!

Don't miss the rest of Kris Costa's amazing KC Superman designs. Check out the full gallery!

NEWS: PROMO POSTERS!

Alex Ross, being a citizen of the Chicago area, is always collaborating with any art iniciative that comes from there, mostly comic book-related. That's why he supports Chicago Comics, a comic book store specialized in backing indie writers and artists, by creating this really cool litho (right) called La Femme Comique. Also Alex is the Guest of Honor at this year's first C2E2 (Chicago Comics and Entertainment Expo) so he created this promotional poster (left) using 3 of Marvel's biggest guns. Both prints are amazing so don't forget to add them to your collection, 'cause I sure will.