Author: HeidiHilliker

Over the past year there has been so much stunning cover artwork. Choosing only 10 covers to feature was extremely difficult. I selected with a bit of bias choosing from the books I read and the artists I love. Below you will find 10 different and dynamic covers in alphabetical order (I could not rank them). They say you can’t judge a book by its cover and “they” in 2011 they were absolutely wrong. These books were all incredible.

 

Animal Man #1

Cover by Travel Foreman

Story by Jeff Lemire

Art by Travel Foreman, Dan Green

Publisher DC Comics

 

Batman and Robin #26

Cover by Chris Burnham

Story by David Hine

Art by Greg Tocchini, Andrei Bressan

Publisher DC Comics

 

Batwoman #1

Cover by J.H. Williams III

Story by J.H. Williams III, W. Haden Blackman

Art by J.H. Williams III

Colors by Dave Stewart

Letters by Todd Klein

Publisher DC Comics

 

Flashpoint: Deadman and the Flying Graysons #2  

Cover by Cliff Chiang, Jared K. Fletcher

Story by J.T. Krul

Art by Fabrizio Fiorentino, Alejandro Giraldo

Colors by Kyle Ritter

Letters by Patrick Brosseau

Publisher DC Comics

 

Locke and Key: Guide to the Known Keys

Cover by  Gabriel Rodriguez 

Story by Joe Hill & Gabriel Rodriguez

Art by  Gabriel Rodriguez

Publisher IDW Publishing

 

Morning Glories #9

Cover by Rodin Esquejo

Story by Nick Spencer

Art by Joe Eisma

Publisher Image Comics

 

Northlanders #45

Cover by Massimo Carnevale

Story by Brian Wood

Art by Paul Azaceta

Publisher Vertigo

 

Rachel Rising #1

Cover by Terry Moore

Story by Terry Moore

Art by Terry Moore

Letters by Terry Moore

Publisher Abstact Studios

 

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Micro-series #2: Michelangelo

Cover by David Petersen

Story by Brian Lynch

Art by Andy Kuhn

Colors by Bill Crabtree

Letters by Shawn Lee

Publisher IDW

 

Uncanny X-Force #7 (Thor Goes Hollywood Variant Cover Edition)

Cover by Mike Del Mundo

Story by Rick Remender

Art by Esad Ribic

Publisher Marvel 

 

 

 

Well Dudes and Dudettes, we have finally reached the end of the Summer. You need not worry you little heads on bit because we still have four more weeks packed with movie madness. I love this time of year for you can actually see the tone of films begin to change for the Fall. While there are still several blockbusters and loose comedies on the menu, a sampling of indies and award season caliber films become available.

Films Not to Miss

RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES – August 5th

Starring: James Franco, Freida Pinto, Andy Serkis

Directed By: Rupert Wyatt

I have been a fan of the Ape films almost as far back as I can remember. All the movies, especially Escape from the Planet of the Apes, made me think of many social issues for the first time in my life. I am so thrilled that the mythos of the Ape universe is being expanded and exposing a new generation to thoughts of evolution, equality and cohabitation.

BELLFOLWER – August 5th

Starring: Evan Glodell, Tyler Dawson, Jessie Wiseman

Directed: Evan Glodell

It wasn’t until I began researching this article, that I even heard of this movie. It second I realized that the main characters were obsessed with the Mad Max films, I was in for the ride!

THE WHISTLEBLOWER – August 5th

Starring: Rachel Weisz, Monica Bellucci, Vanessa Redgrave

Directed By: Larysa Kondracki

And it is officially time to begin rolling out the Oscar contenders. This incredibly talented and primarily female cast look to be delivering a powerful story about the very real issue of sex slavery.

THE HELP – August 12th

Starring: Emma Stone, Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, Bryce Dallas Howard, Sissy Spacek

Directed By: Tate Taylor

I know this was a book but I never read it. I guess it was really great because it is now a movie with an all star cast. It seems to have a certain Fried Green Tomatoes type charming southern quality that will get me to buy a ticket.

HIGHER GROUND – August 12th

Starring: Vera Farmiga, Dagmara Dominczyk, John Hawkes

Directed By: Vera Farmiga

The incredibly talented Vera Farmiga has directed a film for the first time and I want to see it based on that fact alone.

30 MINUTES OF LESS – August 12th

Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Danny McBride, Aziz Ansari

Directed By: Ruben Fleischer

From the director of Zombieland comes another ridiculous Jesse Eisenberg comedy co-starting that guy from Pineapple Express and that other guy from Community. If that had not already sold me, the rape joke in the trail got my full attention.

FRIGHT NIGHT – August 19th

Starring: Colin Farrell, Anton Yelchin

Directed By: Craig Gillespie

Awesome! Sometimes horror flicks are the best remakes. Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Dawn of the Dead and The Fly are just a few great examples. It appears that Fright Night is no exception. I have loved Anton Yelchin since Charlie Bartlett and am thrilled to have him once again in the protagonist seat.

Also in Theatres This Month

August 5th

THE CHANGE UP

Starring: Jason Bateman, Ryan Reynolds

Directed By: David Dobkin

 

DIRTY GIRL

Starring: Juno Temple, Milla Jovovich

Directed By: Abe Sylvia

 

MAGIC TRIP

Directed By: Alison Ellwood, Alex Gibney

Documentary

 

THE PERFECT AGE OF ROCK ‘N’ ROLL

Starring: Jason Ritter

Directed By: Scott D. Rosenbaum

 

August 12th

DON’T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK

Starring: Katie Holmes, Guy Pearce

Directed By: Troy Nixey

 

SEVEN DAYS IN UTOPIA

Starring: Robert Duvall

Directed By: Matt Russell

 

August 19th

BRIGHTON ROCK

Starring: Helen Mirren, Sam Riley

Directed By: Rowan Joffe

 

CIRCUMSTANCE

Starring: Nikohl Boosheri

Directed By: Maryam Keshavarz

 

CONAN THE BARBARIAN

Starring: Jason Momoa, Ron Perlman

Directed By: Maryam Keshavarz

 

SPY KIDS 4: ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD

Starring: Jessica Alba, Jeremy Piven

Directed By: Robert Rodriguez

 

August 26th

FINAL DESTINATION 5

Starring: Nicholas D’Agosto

Directed By: Steven Quale

 

A GOOD OLD FASHIONED ORGY

Starring: Jason Sudeikis

Directed By: Alex Gregory, Peter Huyck

 

OUR IDIOT BROTHER

Starring: Paul Rudd, Elizabeth Banks, Zooey Deschanel, Emily Mortimer

Directed By: Jesse Peretz

 

August 31st

THE DEBT

Starring: Helen Mirren, Sam Worthington, Jessica Chastain, Ciaran Hinds

Directed By: John Madden

 

GAINSBOURG

Starring: Eric Elmosnino

Directed By: Joann Sfar

The only lines at Comic Con that rival those of panel rooms, are the swag lines on the Exhibition Floors. Every year thousands of dweebs, mouth-breathers, poindexters and geeks push, grab and wait for free pieces of paper and plastic. Although these items have little actual value, they are priceless souvenirs of the Con experience. Here are the best freebies I found around the floor.

 

Locke & Key Tattoos

Based off of keys from the award winning IDW series Locke & Key by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez.  

 

 

Pan Am Messenger Bag

High quality bags to promote the new ABC show Pan Am premiering this Fall.

 

Foam ThunderCats Sword of Omens

Full size Sword of Omens from the new ThunderCats series on Cartoon Network. (This is not the actual sword they gave away. I don’t have a picture of that because the peeps at the WB booth are Fascists!)

 

Mockingjay Pin

Lionsgate gave away replica mockingjay pins to promote their film The Hunger Games hitting theatres next Spring based on the best selling series of books by Suzanne Collins.

Mass Effect 3 Omni Blade

Inflatable Omni Blade from the upcoming final installment of BioWare’s sci-fi roleplaying video game trilogy.

Young Justice Playing Cards

Warner Bros. and DC Animation’s show Young Justice themed deck of cards.

 

Keep your eye on eBay if you missed out on any of these Comic Con exclusives and others.

 

It seems like July is evolving into “Geek Month.” With five plus nerdcentric films premiering over the next four weeks and the Mecca of pop culture geekdom that is Comic Con International San Diego ensuing in the latter half of the month, July could be considered the Poindexter of the calender. Wow… so there are 29 movies on my list this month. It was extremely hard for me to pick my top tier. I only chose the the ones I know for sure I’ll see. You’ll notice Transformers did not merit notoriety in my opinion. I’m sure I’ll rent it but there’s no way I’m spending money on… that. Talk about nerdsploitation. I’d like to give a quick shout out to Summer Indies The Future and Another Earth! They both look fantastic and if they came out in the Fall would probably make my list.

On to the crème de la crème…

 

Films Not to Miss

 

HORRIBLE BOSSES – July 8th

Starring: Jason Bateman, Jason Sudeikis, Charlie Day, Kevin Spacey, Colin Farrell and Jennifer Aniston

Directed By: Seth Gordon

This is clearly the modern male version of 9 to 5! I never even dreamed of that combination but now that I have it I’m gonna watch the s#!% out of it!

 

HARRY POTTER and The Deathly Hallows – Part 2 – July 15th

starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint

Directed By: David Yates

Woa! Dragons, fire, the dead returned…. It’s shaping up to be quite the finale!

 

CAPTIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER – July 22nd

starring: Chris Evans, Hugo Weaving and Tommy Lee Jones

Directed By: Joe Johnston

Pretty sure Marvel is, in the words of Charlie Sheen, “winning” the Summer movie scene.

 

COWBOYS & ALIENS – July 29th

starring: Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford and Olivia Wilde

Directed By: John “Zathura;)” Favreau

This ain’t no Wild Wild West! Pretty sure John Wayne would be proud… You know, if he was into aliens and all…

 

THE SMURFS – July 29th

starring: Neil Patrick Harris, Jayma Mays and Hank Azaria

Directed By: Raja Gosnell

Okay, I’m not usually a fan of classic animated property meets live action cross over movies but this looks smurftastic! Have you seen Hank Azaria as Gargamel?! The Smurfs themselves actually look rather cute and they hang out with NPH and the ginger from Glee, Jayma Mayes. I’m smurfin’ down!

 

CRAZY, STUPID, LOVE. – July 29th

starring: Steve Carell, Julianne Moore, Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone and Kevin Bacon

Directed By: Glenn Ficarra and John Requa

In case you forgot, I’m a woman. (Editor’s Note: None of us forgot) I occasionally like to watch a romantic comedy or a bodice ripping drama. There have been a ton of really crappy looking romances lately, this appears to be the exception. If the casting alone doesn’t interest you, I’m sure the trailer will.

 

Attack The Block

Starring: Nick Frost, Nira Park

Directed By: Joe Cornish

(Editor’s Note: Walton here, I have to add this to Heidi’s article as a must see. I don’t care what you have to do to see it, get to a theater showing Attack the Block and enjoy it.)

 

Also in Theatres This Month

 

July 1st

 

TRANSFORMERS: Dark of the Moon

Starring: Shia LeBeouf, Josh Duhamel, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Tyrese Gibson

Directed By: Michael Bay

 

LARRY CROWNE

Starring: Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts

Directed By: Tom Hanks

 

MONTE CARLO

starring: Selena Gomez, Leighton Meester and Katie Cassidy

Directed By: Thomas Bezucha

 

THE PERFECT HOST

starring: David Hyde Pierce

Directed By: Nick Tomnay

 

TERRI

starring: John C. Reilly

Directed By: Azazel Jacobs

 

July 8th

 

ONE DAY

starring: Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess

Directed By: Lone Scherfig

 

BEATS RHYMES & LIFE

starring: A Tribe Called Quest

Directed By: Michael Rapaport

 

THE LEDGE

starring: Liv Tyler and Patrick Wilson

Directed By: Matthew Chapman

 

ZOOKEEPER

Starring: Kevin James, Leslie Bibb and Rosario Dawson

Directed By: Frank Coraci

 

PROJECT NIM

Directed By: James Marsh

 

July 15th

 

SNOW FLOWER AND THE SECRET FAN

Starring: Li Bingbing, Gianna Jun and Vivian Wu

Directed By: Wayne Wang

 

WINNIE THE POOH

starring: Jim Cummings, John Cleese and Craig Ferguson

Directed By: Stephen J. Anderson and Don Hall

 

LUCKY

starring: Colin Hanks, Ari Graynor, Jeffrey Tambor and Mimi Rogers

Directed By: Gil Cates Jr.

 

LIFE, ABOVE ALL

Starring: Khomotso Manyaka, Keaobaka Makanyane and Lerato Mvelase

Directed By: Oliver Schmitz

 

SALVATION BOULEVARD

Starring: Jennifer Connelly, Isabelle Fuhrman and Marisa Tomei

Directed By: George Ratliff

 

TABLOID

Directed By: Errol Morris

 

July 22nd

 

ANOTHER EARTH

Starring: Brit Marling and William Mapother

Directed By: Mike Cahill

 

FRIEND’S WITH BENEFITS

Starring: Justin “JT” Timberlake and Mila Kunis

Directed By: Will Gluck

 

SARAH’S KEY

Starring: Kristin Scott Thomas, Mélusine Mayance and Niels Arestrup

Directed By: Gilles Paquet-Brenner

 

THE MYTH OF THE AMERICAN SLEEPOVER

Starring: Jade Ramsey, Amy Seimetz and Nikita Ramsey

Directed By: David Robert Mitchell

 

July 29th

 

THE FUTURE

Starring: Miranda July, Hamish Linklater and David Warshofsky

Directed By: Miranda July

 

THE DEVIL’S DOUBLE

Starring:Dominic Cooper, Ludivine Sagnier and Raad Rawi

Directed By: Lee Tamahori

 

THE GUARD

Starring: Brendan Gleeson, Don Cheadle and Mark Strong

Directed By: John Michael McDonagh

 

LIFE IN A DAY

Starring: Cindy Baer, Moica and Caryn Waechter

Directed By: Kevin Macdonald

Literally with a bolt of thunder, the summer movie season begun. Don’t worry, May was just foreplay to the rest of what summer 2011 has to offer. The line up for June is smaller but there are still a ton of films to see. July is gonna be huge so make sure not to miss what this month has to offer. If you do, you’ll most likely end up renting them on DVD.

Films Not to Miss

SUPER 8 – June 10th

Starring: Riley Griffiths, Joel Courtney, Elle Fanning, Kyle Chandler

Directed By: J.J. Abrams

This movie looks like if “The Goonies” and “Close Encounters” had a baby. Nothing beats the true sense of adventure, fear or triumph an audience can experience from a child’s point of view.

 

BAD TEACHER – June 24th

Starring: Cameron Diaz, Justin Timberlake, Jason Segel

Directed By: Jake Kasdan

Every time I watch this trailer, I giggle a little bit. As obvious as this sounds, I believe “Bad Teacher” will be funny in the same kind of way as “Bad Santa.” Sign me up for crabby vulgar adults berating children.

 

GREEN LANTERN – June 17th

Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Mark Strong, Peter Sarsgaard, Tim Robbins

Directed By: Martin Campbell

Ummm… I’m a big DC fan and a fan of GL. For that reason alone I will see this film. Everything I’ve seen regarding Oa and the Corps. looks great! Everything else? We’ll see won’t we. I’ve never been super keen on the idea of Ryan Reynolds as Hal Jordan but what’s done is done. There is no more time to debate what a GL movie should be. I hope all the fans come out to support no matter what. There needs to be good DC franchises, other than Batman, out there. Here’s hoping this is one.

 

X-MEN: FIRST CLASS – June 3rd

Starring: James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, January Jones, Kevin Bacon

Directed By: Matthew Vaughn

Although I openly haven’t been a fan of the previous X-Men films, I am a little jazzed about this prequel. Trailers like the one below, the fact that I like all of this director’s previous works, and its amazing cast insure that I’ll be forking out the cash to see this blockbuster in the theatre.

 

CONAN O’BRIEN CAN’T STOP – June 24th

Starring: Conan O’Brien, Andy Richter

Directed By: Rodman Flender

From the man who directed “Idle Hands” comes a seemingly hilarious film documenting Conan O’Brien’s whirlwind tour post NBC split. I’m a fan and I can’t wait to see a whole other side to Coco!

 

Also in Theatres This Month

June 3rd

BEGINNERS

starring: Ewan McGregor, Christopher Plummer, Melanie Laurent

Directed By: Mike Mills

BEAUTIFUL BOY

starring: Michael Sheen, Maria Bello, Kyle Gallner

Directed By: Shawn Ku

BRIDE FLIGHT

starring: Karina Smulders, Waldemar Torenstra, Anna Drijver

Directed By: Ben Sombogaart

SUBMARINE

starring: Craig Roberts, Sally Hawkins, Paddy Considine

Directed By: Richard Ayoade

June 10th

JUDY MOODY AND THE NOT BUMMER SUMMER

starring: Jordana Beatty, Heather Graham, Jaleel White

Directed By: John Schultz

JUST LIKE US

starring: Ahmed Ahmed, Ted Alexandro, Sherif Azab

Directed By: Ahmed Ahmed

THE TRIP

starring: Steve Coogan, Rob Brydon, Claire Keelan

Directed By: Michael Winterbottom

TROLLHUNTER

starring: Otto Jespersen, Robert Stoltenberg, Knut Nærum

Directed By: André Øvredal

VIVA RIVA!

starring: Patsha Bay, Manie Malone, Hoji Fortuna

Directed By: Djo Munga

June 15th

KIDNAPPED

starring: Guillermo Barrientos, Dritan Biba, Fernando Cayo

Directed By: Miguel Ángel Vivas

June 17th

THE ART OF GETTING BY

starring: Freddie Highmore, Emma Roberts

Directed By: Gavin Wiesen

MR. POPPER’S PENGUINS

starring: Jim Carrey, Carla Gugino, Angela Lansbury

Directed By: Mark Waters

BUCK

starring: Buck Brannaman

Directed By: Cindy Meehl

MY AFTERNOONS WITH MARGUERITTE

starring: Gérard Depardieu, Gisèle Casadesus, Maurane

Directed By: Jean Becker

PAGE ONE

starring: David Carr

Directed By: Andrew Rossi

June 24th

CARS 2

starring: Owen Wilson, Larry the Cable Guy, Michael Caine, Emily Mortimer

Directed By: John Lasseter

A BETTER LIFE

starring: Demian Bichir, Jose Julian

Directed By: Chris Weitz

May is always so exciting for moviegoers as it marks the beginning of the summer blockbuster season. If you are unfamiliar with this season, you will recognize it by its latex clad heroes and all too familiar sequels. Somehow this is my favorite time of year. This month there are so many good/fun looking pics hitting theatres that its going to be hard deciding where to spend my money.

Films Not to Miss

THOR – May 6th

Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman

Directed By: Kenneth Branagh

Simply put, Thor not only marks the beginning of Summer but the second phase of Marvel’s motion picture domination plan. Branagh and Hemsworth seem to have this epic Norse tale locked down. I’m so excited that I might not even notice that Natalie Portman has managed to squeeze herself into yet another film this year.

THE BEAVER – May 6th

Starring: Mel Gibson, Jodie Foster, Anton Yelchin

Directed By: Jodie Foster

Regardless of his personal behaviour, Mel Gibson has proven himself time and time again to be a real talent. This film appears to be no exception. I look forward to both his and Jodie Foster’s performance as well as her directing. If this film wasn’t already appealing to me, it also happens to be starring a puppet with a charming Australian accent.

EVERYTHING MUST GO – May 13th

Starring: Will Ferrell, Rebecca Hall

Directed By: Dan Rush

If Ferrell can channel even just a little bit of his Stranger Than Fiction energy, then I believe this film shows lots of promise.

BRIDESMAIDS – May 13th

Starring: Kristin Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne, Melissa McCarthy, Jon Hamm

Directed By: Paul Feig

Finally, a buddy movie for chicks has arrived. Written by and Starring funny lady Kristin Wiig, I’m sure this flick will deliver laughs not just to chicks. <

HESHER – May 13th

Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Devin Brochu, Natalie Portman

Directed By: Spencer Susser

And Natalie Portman is in yet another movie. Not to sound like a hater but I am so sick of her face right now. Seriously, get it out of my view. The only thing that could make me deal with her face one more time would be JGL. He is a totally underrated talent who is a chameleon of an actor and his roll in this upcoming film appears to be no exception.

MIDNIGHT IN PARIS – May 20th

Starring: Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams, Michael Sheen, Marion Cotillard, Kathy Bates

Directed By: Woody Allen

Woody Allen is back with a quirky yet adorable cast that look to be in for more than they signed up for. I have to say I’m a sucker for an Allen flick of any sort but this definitely looks to more of a Everyone Says I Love You then a Scoop which I’m very happy about.

THE HANGOVER PART II – May 26th

Starring: Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis, Ed Helms, Justin Bartha, Ken Jeong

Directed By: Todd Phillips

I’m such a sucker for a sequel especially when it looks like its going to be hilarious! Go ahead Hollywood! Exploit me and add a monkey!

But wait… There’s More…

May offers up an array of dishes suitable for any one’s palette.

Also in Theatres

May 6th

HOBO WITH A SHOTGUN

Starring: Rutger Hauer

Directed By: Jason Eisener

 

JUMPING THE BROOM

Starring: Paula Patton, Angela Bassett, Loretta Devine

Directed By: Salim Akil

SOMETHING BORROWED

Starring: Ginnifer Goodwin, Kate Hudson

Directed By: Luke Greenfield

 

INVISIBLE SIGN

Starring: Jessica Alba, J.K. Simmons and Bailee Madison

Directed By: Marilyn Agrelo

 

LAST NIGHT

Starring: Keira Knightley, Sam Worthington and Eva Mendes

Directed By: Massy Tadjedin

 

PASSION PLAY

Starring: Mickey Rourke, Megan Fox and Bill Murray

Directed By: Mitch Glazer

 

THERE BE DRAGONS

Starring: Charlie Cox, Wes Bentley and Dougray Scott

Directed By: Roland Joffé

 

May 13th

GO FOR IT!

Starring: Aimee Garcia, Al Bandiero, Jossara Jinaro

Directed By: Carmen Marron

 

PRIEST

Starring: Paul Bettany, Karl Urban, Maggie Q, Cam Gigandet

Directed By: Scott Stewart

 

SKATELAND

Starring: Shiloh Fernandez, Ashley Greene, Heath Freeman

Directed By: Anthony Burns

 

THE BIG BANG

Starring: Antonio Banderas, Thomas Kretschmann, William Fichtner

Directed By: Tony Krantz

 

THE FIRST GRADER

Starring: Naomie Harris, Tony Kgoroge and Sam Feuer

Directed By: Justin Chadwick

 

THE HIGH COST OF LIVING

Starring: Zach Braff, Isabelle Blais and Patrick Labbé

Directed By: Deborah Chow

 

May 20th

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES

Starring: Johnny Depp, Penelope Cruz, Geffrey Rush, Ian McShane

Directed By: Rob Marshall

 

COST OF A SOUL

Starring: Chris Kerson, Will Blagrove and Mark Borkowski

Directed By: Sean Kirkpatrick

 

May 26th

KUNG FU PANDA 2

Starring: Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Gary Oldman

Directed By: Jennifer Yuh Nelson

 

May 27th

THE TREE OF LIFE

Starring: Brad Pitt, Sean Penn, Jessica Chastain

Directed By: Terrence Malick

Tribes: The Dog Years

Story & Script: Michael Geszel and Peter Spinetta

Art: Inaki Miranda

Color: Eva de la Cruz

Letters: Comicraft’s Jimmy Betancourt

Cover: Inaki Miranda and Eva de la Cruz

Produced by: SoulCraft Media

Publisher: IDW

Tribes: The Dog Years is a post-apocalyptic adventure with a literal youthful twist. Written by Michael Geszel and Peter Spinetta, the story begins 200 years after a nano-virus has infected the Earth’s entire population causing humans to expire by the age of 21. In this new primitive world, a historical social structure has reemerged. The children of our planet have organized themselves into tribes, each with its own unique culture, language and mythos. Our guides on this journey are Sundog and Fallingstar of the Sky Shadow tribe. Their destinies cross paths with an Ancient, a 59-year-old scientist called Adams, from an underwater world. They, along with a ragtag group of other tribe members, embark on a mission to ensure that humanity can know its children’s children.

 

As a lifetime lover of ancient mythology and the post-apocalyptic genre, I was instantly immersed in the story. It’s more than just that kind of a tale though. It’s a story of adolescence, a story full of passion and impulse, of cause and effect, of youth and the fear of aging. I often find myself drawn to young adult characters. Life is so immediate for them. It’s filled with such a sense of urgency. Tribes takes that concept and magnifies it. These children will never really have a chance to grow up and give up. What if your first love was your last love? What if your childhood best friends were holding your hand on your deathbed? What is your wild imagination was never tamed? This is the world of Tribes. This idea is enhanced and brought to life by the stunning artwork of Inaki Miranda and Eva de la Cruz. This Madrid based team deliver gorgeous visuals with depth, shadow and light in an amazingly cinematic panoramic view.

 

All and all, Tribes delivers an all-encompassing world that sucked me in as a reader. I sat down with the book and before I knew it I was finished. I personally will be awaiting the arrival of Tribes II.

 

At Wonder Con I was fortunate to be able to sit down with creator Michael Geszel for an interview. He appeared to me to be a passionate storyteller with love of history, myth and Sci-Fi who has put his heart and soul into this project. Here is what he said about the book:

Heidi Hilliker: What was your inspiration for this story.

Michael Geszel: I’m a big science fiction fan. I love reading about science. I’m a huge fan of movies like The Road Warrior and the great 70s Sci-Fi like A Boy and his Dog and the Planet of the Apes movies. So, I love post apocalyptic stories… when they’re done right… The premise came from reading about telemeters which are these sort of wick like structures in our cells that determine how long we live and the idea that what if some sort of nano-virus malfunctioned and shortened those telomeres. Sort of flipping Logan’s Run on its side and mashing it up with Lord of the Flies. Then 200 years later it would be this new primitive state of nature with just kids in different tribes. Then you have all of these different tribes… infinite number of tribes with different mythologies and superstitions and then that’s a world that really attracted me. Something I could sink my teeth into.

HH: This huge Sci-Fi epic is captured beautifully by the artwork.

MG: Inaki Miranda and Eva de la Cruz are a team based in Madrid. They were a dream to work with. A one in a million find… Couldn’t have turned out better.

HH: Who’s brainchild was it to present the story in a widescreen type of a format?

MG: That was a collaboration with Inaki and I. I told him I wanted something immersive and cinematic with larger panels not cut the story up. He said let’s do it widescreen and I said let’s do it. That has made mine… and IDW’s life much more difficult…. Barnes & Noble wanted to order 1000 copies of the book but because of the format only ordered 300 because they can’t stock it or fit it on the shelf.

HH: Wow. That seems a little ridiculous.

MG: That’s the reality of the marketplace. It’s been a big challenge getting the book out there and getting readership for it… I can see I don’t regret that decision for a moment.

HH: How did you first connect with Inaki?

MG: I saw a comic he did for a London publisher in San Diego (Comic Con International). I was looking for an artist and I saw Markosia. He did something called Lexington Chronicles for Markosia out of London and they had a table really… I saw one image, a cover, and I was like that’s it, that’s the guy, that’s the team, that’s the artist. That’s what I want.

Michael and Inaki are now great friends.

HH: Will there be a sequel?

MG: This is the first of a series. There will be three or four books. Maybe push it to 5 but I would say 3… 4 is enough to tell the story.

HH: It seems like there would be an element of freedom working primarily with young characters.

MG: It’s challenging too. You have to be a little careful with the sex… They are having children young… Although during Middle Ages women were having children at 13 or maybe younger. We allude to it but don’t really dwell on it. We try to keep it in the background. The story is an adventure so it’s really about a quest adventure…. I hope to explore that more in Tribes II and III. More of those issues… especially the effect that has on woman and how they deal with that…. Fallingstar is a little bit of a rebel. She hasn’t had children yet. She is a woman of vision and imagination. She understands that the mysterious adult is special and that he will bring light to the dark ages.

HH: Would you consider yourself a history buff?

MG: I’m fascinated by Renaissance history and sort of quote end quote primitive history, Native American history absolutely, history of the west. My dad is a big history buff. I think I get it from him… (Speaking of history) The lessons are all there.

HH: Will there be global Tribes?

MG: The possibilities are infinite.

 

To get a taste of Tribes: The Dog Years, you can read the first 34 pages free at http://tribesthecomic.com  . The complete book can be purchase on iTunes for only $7.99 for the iPad ( http://itunes.com/apps/tribesthedogyears), on Amazon.com or at your local comic book store.