15 years ago I attended my first San Diego Comic Con. 6 years later, in 1998, EL MUERTO made his debut comic book appearance at that show. 2 years ago, back in 2005, we screened a rough teaser trailer for the EL MUERTO film, which had finished principal photography a few months earlier.
On friday evening, July 27, we screened the film to an audience of comic book readers, film buffs and a dedicated group of long-time El Muerto fans. In some ways, a circle was happily completed that evening. But not the last one, for sure. Here's the rundown of my friday in San Diego.
I arrived on a warm friday afternoon, made warmer by my choice of dress! But with the hotel I was staying at way outside the city limits, there would be no place to change into my 'movie screening clothes' later....
Back when I first attended Comic Con in '92, attendence was at around 22,000!! (According to a post I found online by Jackie Estrada, long time Comic Con organizer) 22,000! That is hilarious! This past Con is rumored to be upwards of 125,000!! Wading through the mass of humanity outside the convention center, I would not doubt it for a second.
Entering the actual building for me is always exciting. Because at this point in the game, you can usually find the same exhibitors in the same spot they usually occupy (back-issue comic dealers, booksellers, publishers) but then there's always a huge varitey of new people exhibiting, selling everything you could possible imagine related to comics and pop culture collectables. It's like finding the secret Ebay wharehouse or something.
But of course one of the best things about going to Con is hooking up with so many of my friends, many who are selling their own comics but also plenty of 'civilians' I run into as well. One of the first booths I tracked down was that of good friends Rhode Montijo and Jamie Baker. They've been splitting a booth at Con for a couple of years now and often have some gimmick. This year it was cheesy suits (think the classic used-car salesman) and signs all over the booth proclaiming 'Everything must go!" and "Prices slashed!".
As I was standing around Rhode's booth, I notice that WWE wrestling superstar Stone Cold Steve Austin is walking around (promoting his new film I imagine). Actually, my girlfriend Bernyce noticed him and she went up and asked him for a photo. Using her as cover, I asked Steve for a photo as well. I wished him luck in his new movie careeer and he actually responded, in his trademark Texas gravelly voice, with genuine sincerity "Thanks, I'll need it!". That was very odd and charming to me. Here's Stone Cold, one of the most badass performers in the history of wrestling, and he's as scared and unsure as the rest of us entering the movie biz! Nice!
Comic Con wouldn't be Comic Con without a visit to the booth of Rafael Navarro, the indestructable creator of Sonambulo. Here's me and Raf and his current director on a new SCOOBY DOO animated project, Kevin Altieri. Kevin is an animation director and long-time storyboard artist whose many credits include the classic BATMAN, THE ANIMATED SERIES!
Dean LeCrone is a local San Diego cartoonist I met a few years back in the Small Press exhibitor area. He does comics with a crazy bent of humor and Dean's also a good old fashioned 1970s-era comic book geek! My type of people! This year he was promoting his 'geeks gone crazy' DVD, "Dean LeCrone VS. The Mutants of Comic Con!"!! He filmed it at Con last year (I show up in bits of it I'm told!) and I hear from good sources it's hilarious! I actually forgot to pick up a copy but he's going to be screening it at an LA comic book shop in September, so I'll have to make that screening. Here Dean's checking my heart for Comic Con Excitability Syndrome....Because us comic book/indie film dudes have to take care of one another.
Speaking of excitability, the time was approaching for the EL MUERTO screening. But first, we had a dinner to attend. Who's 'we'? That would be me, my girlfriend Bernyce, one of our executive producers, Bruno Leone and his lovely wife Pat, my producer Larry Rattner, the Head of Sales for our DVD distributor Echo Bridge Home Entertainment, and one of the stars of our film, Tony Plana. Dinner was at a very nice and cozy restaurant called Busters, located near the Con. After getting my fill of Sangria, I was ready to head back to the convention center and show the film.
The screening was scheduled for 9pm, but I had asked the staff if they could wait another 10 minutes or so. As the Con was closed at 7pm, I knew people would be making their way back from dinner, so the extra minutes actually helped. I had a good turnout of friends show up, as well as some long time El Muerto fans. But the majority of the people were just curios conventioneers looking for cool movie to see. I introduced the film and grabbed my seat, this time towards the back of the room. I was extremely exhausted after a very long day and I figured if I nodded off for a few seconds, no one would notice! (Imagine someone blogging about that the next day? '"El Muerto creator nods off at his own film"?!!). As usual whenever we screen the film to an audience that knows me, my cameo gets the expected cheer from the audience. That still pumps me up everytime I experience that!
Immediately following the film we had a Q&A. Tony Plana walked up on the steps and I introduced him to the audience just as he set foot on the stage. As a long-time actor, and especially because of his current role on the multiple Emmy-nominated show UGLY BETTY, Tony's popular with the public. As I walked onstage I lifted the mike and lowered my voice "And Javier Hernandez", introducing myself to an enthusiastic audience (it pays to have friends and fans at these events!). Our producer Larry Rattner joined us and I moderated us through about a half hour of questions.
The questions I get are always 'What was it like getting your comic made into a movie" and "When's the next book out?"! The answers are always 'Great' and 'Very soon'!! Moderating was actually fun, and I'm told I did a pretty good job. I don't know how often the creator of a comic book that's been made into a movie gets to moderate his own movie panel, but the wonderful thing about this entire film production has been that I've had the oppurtunity to be involved very closely with the entire process. We mentioned the release date for the DVD (Spet. 18) and I told the audience about the many features we've created for the DVD. Features such as a special Muerto mini-comic book I created to be packaged inside the DVD, a 'slideshow' of my first Muerto comic, a color gallery of El Muerto artwork by 7 artist I personally handpicked, a tutorial on how to draw El Muerto, a commentary track with myself and screenwriter/director Brian Cox, and interviews with the cast and crew. And I was very glad to see that they created a spanish language dub for the film, as opposed to just subtitling it. Before we ended the panel, I said something I had meant to say at the beginning of the screening. "I'd like to dedicate the screening to the memory of a comic book legend, Jack Kirby, the King of Comics". I met Jack at my first Comic Con back in 92, and he was always one of my two most important influences in my lifelong love of comics, so dedicating the film to him at this convention was an honor.
We gave out this poster after the Q&A which Tony and I were more than happy to sign for the fans.
Tony not only plays the wonderfully written Aparicio in our film, but he's such a generous person with his time. A real professional and class act.
It was fun talking to the fans after the film. It was a manageable but enthusiastic crowd. Plus it gave me a chance to talk to some friends of mine who hadn't yet seen the film. Tony and I posed for several pictures and I can say that we all had a great time at the screening. I was always hoping to have had a chance to screen the movie at Comic Con and I'm grateful to the convention organizers for making it happen. Truly one of the highlights in an experience that is overflowing in highlights.
Midnight was fast approaching and I still had a 35 minute drive to my hotel. And it's getting late for me right now as well so I promise you, dear reader, that I will finish up my con report tomorrow night, for sure! I still have to tell you about saturday and sunday in San Diego. Thanks......
I can't believe it was only this past sunday that I was in San Francisco screening EL MUERTO at the Another Hole in the Head film fest film festival! Pressing matters (which of course involves the film in question!) have kept me at bay for the whole week, but I wanted to share some stories on this screening.
So, since this was a three-day trip, and I was going up there by myself, I decided to fly. This way I could spend more time enjoying the trip rather than spend over 12 hours driving up and back home. Mind you, I love the drive, as I've been doing it for the past 10 years, attending the annual APE comic show and a couple of other events in Northern California. But the decision was made that I would fly. No problem. Except for one little detail... I hadn't flown for over 15 years or so!
As this was the post-9/11 world, I had to get up to speed on travel arrangements and such. Yes, you do have to take off your shoes, and get your luggage zapped with x-rays. But, all that was fine, compared to the Economy Class seat I had to stuff myself into! At least it was only an hour flight!
So, I'm fine til the plane pulls onto the runway...then all of a sudden I'm like "Holy *****! This plane is going FAST!!" Then whoosh, we're up in the air!! I'm sure this sounds silly to most folks, regardless if they themselves have been on a plane or not. But I have to tell you, as we ascended up into the sky, I felt a tiny clump of terror deep inside of me. I tried very hard to
make sure it didn't get any worse. Last thing I wanted to do was be the panic-filled passanger begging for the plane to land! That seat near the window was probably getting me a little too close to reality than I wanted...
But, once the plane leveled off high above the clouds, I slowly adapted to flying above the world. Probably helped having James Bond theme songs playing in my iPod.... So I'm gazing out the window (with some thought as to how strong that wing really was!) and I realize something. Over the past 10 years or so, I've driven up to the Bay Area mainly for comic book conventions or store signings and such. Pretty much always coming up here to promote El Muerto. Now almost 10 years since I debuted EL Muerto in San Jose, I'm flying up to the Bay Area again..only this time to promote the movie based on my comic creation. Things certainly are moving faster and higher for me. Sure glad my girlfriend booked me a seat near the window after all!
Not surprisingly, I arrive in San Francisco Airport safe and sound. My friend Rhode Montijo arrives right on time and soon we're off to a nearby taco stand. Things are proceeding right on schedule! I met Rhode 10 years ago while we both attended the APE in San Jose in 1997, a year before I debuted Muerto and I believe he debuted his comic, Pablo's Inferno in March of '97 in Oakland at WonderCon. I was actually sitting at my friend Rafael Navarro's table as he was debuting his comic book, Sonambulo. The Bay Area has been the birthplace of some pretty cool ideas, in my self-centered opinion!
So, anyways, I was staying at Rhode's place in Oakland for the weekend. I was really looking forward to him seeing the film as we've talked about it since I first got contacted by the filmmakers several years ago. He's been looking forward to seeing it. Rhode's always been an extremely supportive fan to the comic and one of those treasured friends I've been lucky enough to meet in life. Plus as amazing artist and storyteller himself, it's always an honor and pleasure to here his opinions and ideas about my work and also to be inspired and awed by his own tremendous talent. Here's a pic of a sculpture he made of his comic creation, PABLO'S INFERNO. This is simply beautiful, ain't it?
So by now you're wondering "Hey, what about the freakin' screening?!" Okay, so the following day, on sunday, we drive over to the Roxie Cinema in the Mission District of San Francisco. It's a great little old fashioned theatre that looks like it dates back to the late 60s/early 70s. After dinner we walk over to the theatre with some friends and there in the front window display we see the Muerto poster. Obvious photo op, of course!
I meet Jeff, the director of the festival and we talk about the Q&A following the film. I notice two guys standing around, one of them on a cell phone. I hear something like "Yeah, we're at the Another Hole in the Head festival....it's a movie called El Muerto...looks like Dia de Los Muertos....it's him and the girlfriend on the poster...." He's probably talking to some friend about what's going on tonight. I approach the guy standing next to him (figuring this is what I came for!). "You guys should see this movie, it looks pretty good" I tell him. This guy responds "Oh yeah, we were thinking of checking it out. Looks interesting". Then I told him. "Yeah, it's based on my comic book. I'm Javier Hernandez, the creator of the comic. How ya doing?". We shake hands then the other guy gets off the phone and I tell him the same thing. They both tell me they'll see me inside the theatre. Nice!
A friend of mine, Rico, who I first met about 6 years ago when he shopped my table at an APE con, shows up as well. He lives in the Bay Area and in fact drove down to San Diego in March to attend our premiere at the Latino Film Festival! Now he had brought his lovely wife and their son and daughter to see the film. This is the perfect family, one united in their love of EL Muerto! Seriously, they're a wonderful group of people and it's a pleasure knowing such folks.
So we all make it to our seats in the theatre. I'm actually a little nervous for some reason, even with some friends in the audience. But, I make a quick introduction to the film and let everyone know I'll be around afterwards for a Q&A. This is about the 6th time I've seen the film (not counting two or three rough cuts) and the freshenss of experiencing it hasn't worn off. Sitting with an audience of people who aren't really aware of the comic or know much about the movie is a real neat experience, because I like to compare their reactions to the other audiences I've seen it with. Most of the funny lines pretty get the same reactions, but I like how different people will react to other subtle aspects differently. There's always one line that gets the biggest laugh, and I'm glad to say it was lifted directly from the first issue. And each time I see my cameo I can just feel my friend's amusement when they see me. Least I assume it's a positive reaction!
The film ends with a strong round of applause and after the lights go up I'm called up to the front. Gulp... But, I'm introduced and then get right down to it. One thing I learned awhile ago, and it helps me get through any stage fright, is that people who stick around for these Q&A's want to be there. They want to hear from the creator and how this came about. Even though the overwhelming majority probably never heard of me or El Muerto before the festival. So, it's not exactly a hostile audience. Well, that's always the hope!
One of the questions I got was "What do you say about the the Christ-like parallels that are drawn to El Muerto in the film?" I told the guy who asked "Well, those are intentional,if you read the comic. And certainly our director played with that in the film." Then I added, "I think El Muerto is the first superhero since Jesus Christ to come back from the dead and have the power to raise the dead!" That got a good laugh. Another gal said that she wanted the god of death to win, because she was rooting for the Aztec culture. Wow, another heavy question! I dodged that by saying that we would have had an entirely different movie if that was the outcome. "Maybe if we make a sequel we can have Round 2" I assured her.
So I see Rhode raise his hand, and I figure this should be cool. I was right! "Who do you think would win in a fight between El Muerto and the Hulk?", he asks. I immediately turn to Jeff, the festival director, and ask him, "Jeff, can we get security over here?". But I answered the question. "Well, El Muerto would win. Because everytime the Hulk would pulverize El Muerto, the Aztec Zombie would regenerate himself and Hulk would eventually tire and turn back into Bruce Banner. Then Muerto would kick his butt!". That brought a pretty good round of applause. So of course, to seize on the moment I said, "Hey listen, I love the classic corporate superheroes too, but it's nice that we support the creator-owned independent heroes as well!" I'm a shameless promoter of my own indie cred, what can I say?
Another friend from the Bay Area, Jaime Baker asked two questions which helped keep things moving. "What's the name of the actress who played Maria...and can I have her phone number?" Good one. His other question was "How did this whole deal come about?", which allowed me to go into the whole Cinderella/one-in-a-million story behind the Muerto movie deal. I think the story behind the movie is one that really captures people's imagination, because really, the circumstances that lead to the film are filled with good luck and chances of fate. Really it comes down to an imaginative idea, my trust in the integrity of Brian Cox (the screenwriter/director), the entrepeneurial instincts of our investors the Leones and the ability of our producers to put together an excellent cast and can-do film crew. I remind people that I created EL Muerto 10 years ago in a very modest little black & white photocopied comic book, with about a print run of 500 or less. Don't even remember the exact number to be honest. And this was done solely to create my own character in my own book. No dreams of movies in my head. And now here we are with EL Muerto considered a brand with potential to be exploited in various other media. I told the audience that other than the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and American Splendor and now El Muerto, offhand I couldn't think of another self-published, black & white, creator-owned comic book to be made into a film. There probably is, and I wouldn't mind being told about it. But as it stands I think El Muerto has earned itself a special little place in the annals of comics-to-film.
Other questions concerned the potential for a sequel :"That would be up to the marketplace and you folks." And the standard: "How's it feel to see your comic up on the screen?" Well, the standard, honest answer is that "It feels great. It's like everytime I see the film it reminds me of the best Christmas I ever had, over and over again." I realized the other day that in regards to this answer I could add that selling someone a comic and showing people the movie provide unique experiences. When someone buys the comics from me at a convention, or through my website, it's great to meet them and thank them in person. But unless they write me and email or see me at another show, I won't know how, or if, they enjoyed the comic. When you're watching the film with the audience you are literally experiencing their reaction to the film. Once the DVD is out of course, it'll be back to either hearing people's response via email or hearing from them in person. Then of course there's the cheers or jeers that can be posted all over the web....
All said and done, I had a great time at the screening.
This year's Another Hole in the Head film fest will be hosting two El Muerto screenings! I'll be at the sunday night showing and will host a Q&A after the film. So any Bay Area Muerto fans please come out and check out the film and support the festival. The screening is held at the Roxie Cinema and should be a blast.
Astute readers will note that El Muerto has a very special connection to the Bay Area. I debuted El Muerto at the 1998 Alternative Press Expo in San Jose. And in fact, two months later at WonderCon in Oakland, I almost killed him off! I was having a really bad show that day. No sales, no interest...nada! After taking a sullen stroll to the hotel bar and pounding down a rather mild Screwdriver (Vodka and orange juice to our younger readers!) I walked back to the table prepared to tear it down, pack it up and head back down to Whittier!
Well, as I got to the table, there was reporter from a local paper waiting for an interview and a couple of fans ready to buy comics! Long story short, I stuck around and pledged to never let myself get down like that again. I've attended every single APE since then and have met many wonderful fans and made some great friends up North. And now I'll be showing the movie based on my comic book in good ol' San Francisco! How's that for a Hollywood ending?!
Check out the festival site and order your tickets! Hope you make it out there!
Friday night's screening at the Reel Rasquache Latino Film Festival at Cal State LA went really well and it's another memorable event to keep in the record books! This was about the fifth time I've seen the final version of the film, and our second film festival. Still enjoying the film upon multiple viewings, and in fact each one so far has it's own unique dynamics to it. Either because I've got different groups of friends/family in the audience or just the audience itself will always react differently. One thing I notice about this screening is there were a lot more folks in the audience jumping out of there seats when the scarier moments appeared onscreen! There was a pair of ladies behind me just screaming out their lungs at certain moments! It's so great experiencing these live moments.
One of my favorite moments during any screening is the scene where I appear in my cameo. I can tell I have friends in the audience because they'll give out a shout-out or a chuckle when I show up. And during the opening credits (for which I illustrated the title cards) I usually get a quick little round of applause for the credit 'Based on the comic book El Muerto by Javier Hernandez'.
The screeening was held at Cal State Los Angeles, and in fact El Muerto was the opening night film for the three day festival. What's really cool about these festival screenings (as opposed to some of the private screenings we've had) is that they usually have tickets with the name of the movie printed on the ticket. Now that's a souvenir worth scrapbooking!
One of my good friends from college, Tony Saxon, came to the screening and brought a surprise with him. A copy of the 1998 'Daze of the Dead: The Numero Uno Edition', the very first El Muerto book I ever printed! Of course I have my own copy of this book (and another copy or two to one day put on Ebay!!), but it was pretty cool seeing one of the original Muerto comics. Back when I made that book, photocopied at a local CopyMax, I never would have thought that I'd be attending a screening of a live-action film based on that very same issue!! In fact, it was this little book that I sent director Brian Cox when he first heard my interview on NPR, back in the summer of 2001. He really enjoyed the story and the character of El Muerto as he appeared in the first issue. He didn't need to see a full-color comic series or graphic novel! Pretty amazing, if you ask me!
The name of the building where we screened the film is actually called The Intimate Theatre! In the lobby itself, they set up a little display of some of my Muerto artwork. On the other side of the lobby was a table where I had some prints for sale as well as comics and zines. It was nice being handed some comics to sign right after the screening. Here's the listing in the program guide and a shot if some of the artwork on display.
My friend Michael Aushenker realizes he already has the stuff on the table!! "Where's the new book, dammit?!"
Watching the film in that theatre was really good, because while it was the smaller venue of the two film festivals we've done, my producer Larry Rattner and I agreed that is was the best sounding screeening we've attended so far. And the smaller size of that theatre really lived up to it's Intimate description. I sat in the front row this time and could really feel the audience sitting behind me as they experienced the picture. Among the many things in the film I look forward to each time is savoring the wonderful performances and great actors we were fortunate to have in our film. Everytime I see Tony Plana and Michael Parks in a scene together I get this feeling of satisfaction that El Muerto is the place these two tremendously talented actors meet onscreen (at least to my knowledge...let me know if that's not the case). And seeing Wilmer Valderrama as the living incarnation of the undead Diego/El Muerto on the screen is still a miraculous sight for this average Jose from Whittier, CA to see.
One of the actors from the movie who I ran into that evening was Maria Conchita Alonso.
She actually came up to me and gave me a hug, that was real cool. She plays Sister Rosa, a nun who works at the church that turns out to have it's share of action in the film. Quick story about Maria Conchita: One day while filming I was hanging out at the Craft Service table (the table where all the world's snack food is located during a film shoot!). Maria came by and looked for a quick bite. She got a slice of apple and put some peanut butter on it for a snack. I looked at her and said, "Yeesh. Peanut butter on apple?" Not missing a beat she told me "No, no. It's good! Here, try one". She then got a new apple, cut off a slice and placed some peanut butter on it and gave it to me. I tried it, and actually thought it tasted really good! I actually love peanut butter so who knows why I commented negatively in the first place! But, at least now I can saw that Maria Conchita Alonso put peanut butter on my apple!!
As it was a film festival, I had a chance to meet other filmmakers, several young directors with their various indie films making their own festival rounds. They gave some nice compliments on the film, which was great. It's nice to meet other filmmakers and share our own experiences with one another. Comparing notes with fellow creators in comics and film kind of runs the same, we all know the hardships and trials one another goes through but also we have a mutual respect and understanding for each other's work. I'd certainly like to work on further film projects myself, hopefully some Muerto franchise action as well as a new idea or two. Also I ran into a guy who's organizing a film festival in a the area, so I introduced him to my producer and we talked about entering our film in his festival. I'll post news on that as it becomes official.
Here are a couple of fans of the movie outside in the courtyard after the screening (actually they wanted more beefcake shots of Wilmer in the film!).
The young lady on my right is actually the daughter of my friend Martin Espino (he played the ancient Mexican instruments in our film scrore as well as chanting in Nahuatl, the language of the Aztecs) and her friend on my left. I told them if we do a sequel I'll see about getting them aboard as extras. The reception following the film was held in the courtyard outside the theatre and was catered with some really good food and open bar. What I thought was cool was that the food, beef and chicken quesadillas, was served in really nice looking silverware! In fact, there was a platter of chips with the nacho cheese contained in a large fancy looking silver bowl! East LA snack food served up in ritzy looking silverware...NICE!! I got a chance to chat it up with all kinds of people and mingle with lots of my old friends who made the screening. A good collection of comic book creators and other artists were in attendance. It was kind of like a micro-comics convention!
One of the cartoonists in attendance was Rafael Navarro and his wife Irma, friends of mine for about 15 years now. Raf and I met at a life-drawing class at Cerritos College, and immediately hit it off when we found out we were both comics geeks.
I actually joined Raf at his table for the convention where he debuted his Sonambulo comic book at, and the following year I debuted El Muerto at the same show. Over the years we've done a lot of shows together and seen our fair share of comic book movies, so it was great that he and Irma were able to finally see EL Muerto. In fact, they both appear as extras in the film, with Irma getting a pretty prominent placement in one shot with Wilmer. Great going, Mrs. N!! So Rafael can be credited with a guest cameo in another creator's comic book film adaptation!
Prof. John Ramirez, the director and founder of the festival, put on a great show and was a pleasure to work with. He has my sincere thanks. It was a really wonderful night and gettting that enthusiastic response from the audience is very encouraging. Most people comment about the very high quality of actors in the movie, with my title card sequence also getting a vote of approval. Most people want more El Muerto, so if everyone else who sees the movie feels the same way, and supports the film at the theatre and on DVD, then you never know. You just might one day read a post here that says "EL Muerto Dos gets greenlit!"
Okay all you Southern Cali Muerto fans, here it comes! EL MUERTO will be screening at the REEL RASQUACHE LATINO FILM FESTIVAL at Cal State LA on friday night, 7 pm on May 18!
Tickets are available through the Luckman Fine Arts box office, and I would recommend jumping on this quick as seating is limited! I'll be at the screening of course, as well as attending the after-party reception! Come and support this great independent film, in this, the Golden Age of Comic Book Movies!! I never would have thought back in the swinging 70s as a little impressionable kid that one day there would be a film based on a comic book I created, hot on the heels of the Spider-Man movie trilogy! Simply miraculous, I gotta tell ya.
Among the great talent in the Muerto movie are Wilmer Valderrama (THAT 70s SHOW), Angie Cepeda (LOVE IN THE TIME OF CHOLERA), Tony Plana (UGLY BETTY), Joel David Moore (ART SCHOOL CONFIDENTIAL), and the great Michael Parks (GRINDHOUSE). How's that for a stellar cast?! And of course I held my own in my little cameo, too!
I was born in East LA, lo many years ago, so it's really nice to be able to screen the film, about my zombie superhero, in my birthplace. Hope to see and meet many of you at this magical evening!
Friday I'm off to San Francisco to attend my 10th APE in a row!! Never missed one show, and in fact I debuted El Muerto there back when APE was held in San Jose. APE is put on by the folks at Comic Con International, so they know how to put on a show! I've always had stellar service at this show, and invite any comics fans in the Bay Area to come over and meet all kinds of neat cartoonists and buy some cool books.
I'll be there both days, saturday and sunday, with comics, zines and lots of prints. This is definitely my favorite comic book convention, always a great place to meet new fans and hook up with old friends. This year I'm debuting a brand new zine called: DRAWING THE DEAD. It's basically a little 'how-to-draw' El Muerto guide, as well as a behind-the-scenes look at how I create my comic book stories. Short versiont: No script, pencil the pages first, ink 'em, then write the dialogue page per page!
You can pick up a copy at APE, or write me and I'll let ya know if I have any left (most likely will!). Here's the cover and sample pages:
I'll be at table #235, so stop by if you can. I'll update you on the El Muerto movie AND fill you in on the new evolution in my publishing plans...
Yes folks, El Muerto goes digital! Big change for the new DEAD & CONFUSED comic, but soon everyone will be able to read it anywhere! See you at APE!
Earlier this week I recorded an interview with SMALLL WORLD PODCAST.COM and it's been posted here. This was fun to do, and as always, recorded interviews are interesting because I always fret over what I'm going to sound like when I hear the final product!
Well, this one went pretty good. Although I often think I have to many 'Um's and 'Ah's. Well, at least you can put a voice to my image now, those of you who haven't met me. Someone's going to hear this and say "Oh, I thought he was going to sound like Ricardo Montalban". I WISH!! But, regardless, there are some questions about self-publishing in there, mixed in amongst the usual comic book and movie inquiries. Bazooka Joe, the person who runs the site, had heard about the Muerto movie last month at the San Diego Latino Film Festival, so he contacted me and requested an interview. He puts together a nice show with lots of interesting people. I'm glad to have had the chance to contribute to his show.
Hope you find it informative and entertaining. :)
The good folks at Horroryearbook.com have just posted an interview with me. Crack writer Molly Celaschi had some good solid questions, like this tantalizing little firecracker: "You also made an appearance as “Man in Costume” in a scene with El Muerto. Was that just for fun?". The answer to that and other questions are waiting in the interview....
Also, HorrorYearbook is presenting the 3rd Annual Independent Film Festival at SiliCon, a multi-media convention in San Jose, Ca that I'll be a guest at in October! El Muerto debuted in San Jose in the form of a little ol' independently printed black & white photocopied comic, so it's going to be an El Muerto homecoming for me. More on that later....
Thanks to Douggary, Wil and 'Good Golly' Miss Molly!
We did it! Our premiere showing, at the San Diego Latino Film Festival on saturday, March 17, was a sold-out hit!
I had been at the festival earlier in the week for some workshops and panels, so the anticipation was building. Boy, this was a thrilling event, I'll tell you. Family, friends, fans and filmgoers all made the event so memorable.
We had a press conference before the screening, with Tony Plana, producer Larry Rattner and myself, in the lobby of the theatre. Tony is such a dynamic figure, so strongly supportive of film festivals and Latino art, and very popular with the fans.
Here we are after the press conference. He was more than happy to pose for tons of pics from all the fans there, and I found myself the subject of quite a bit myself. (Good thing I invested in a suit!)
I lingered outside the theatre before the 8 o'clock showing, greeting my family and friends as they arrived. My three siblings and their families, along with mom, made the 100 mile trek down to San Diego. Heck, even one of my fans from my Muerto Message Board drove all the way down from the Bay Area to see the film! Here's a great pic: the line for EL MUERTO! These would be the first film fans ever to pay and line up for the film! Our previous screenings were private invites or American Film Market attendees. So this crowd made for a priceless pic! The showing was sold out and in fact there were about 2 dozen people waiting to see if any more seats would become available.
The film played to a packed theatre, and everyone had enthusiastic responses. It was great that our three executive producers/financers were there as well. Bruno Leone and his two sons Dan and Rich. They're really down-to-earth folks, and always supportive of me as the creator of the comic. The film began with the opening credits, featuring my artwork intercut with live action, and the viewers were following the film every step of the way, and thankfully laughing at all the right times! My cameo drew a lot of cheers, which made me happy and grateful that I picked that particular scene myself. I've already seen the film several times, but to have had so many entusiastic people in the audience was a whole new experience. After the screening, we had a Q&A up near the screen, with lots of great questions, followed by an impromtu autograph session.
Our writer/director Brian Cox was called out of the country for a production meeting on another project, but he had asked me to read a statement for him. I was honored to do so, and wish he was there to have heard all the great compliments on the wonderful film he made. If it wasn't for my initial faith in his approach for the project, I would never have signed on to make the film. Also, I was able to dedicate the film, in the spirit of Dia de Los Muertos, to four people who had passed away in the last year who I was hoping would be able to see it. My aunt Dora, uncle Greg, uncle Manuel, and friend Gary Burke. Tony and I were so busy with meeting people that they had to politley ask us to continue signing out in the lobby! And of course, more pictures were taken. Here's a nice one with (left to right) my sister, niece, brother, mom, Tony, me and another niece. Tony had some nice words for my mother, in espanol, no less. Mom was on cloud nine. In fact, at one point, she had me sign her an autograph! I was like "Mom, you're my mom!". That was so awesome, though!
Here's me, my leading lady Bernyce, cousin Jose Manuel and Tony. Sure was great to be able to celebrate with my loved ones and my fellow filmmakers.
After several minutes in the lobby, we all headed outside. By then, some people were leaving, and we were getting ready to be shuttled downtown to attend a nightclub. But it gave me a chance to meet up with friends and hear how much they loved the film. My cousin Manuel took this pic as I walked up the stairs outside the theatre. He says it shows me moving up higher and higher. And why the heck not?!
El Muerto will be screening at the San Diego Latino Film Festival on March 17. Show time is 8 pm, and introducing the film are stars Angie Cepeda and Tony Plana (ABC TV's 'UGLY BETTY'). And ...me. (Hey, I got a cameo in the film!) The film will be shown at the UltraStar Mission Valley Cinemas at Hazard Center @ 7510 Hazard Center Road (off Highway 163 and Friars Road).
Tickets can be purchased online, and there are only 100 available to purchase, so act now!. Here's the listing for the film, with ticket info.
So if you're in the San Diego area March 17 and want to see El Muerto, c'mon down!
In conjuction with the upcoming San Diego Latino Film Festival, there is a group show featuring the works of a number of artists from animation, comics and illustration, including the late Ernesto "El Chango' Garcia Cabral (1890-1968), considered one of Mexico's greatest political cartoonists. Also featured in the show are comic artists Rafael Navarro, Richard Dominguez, Billy Martinez, David Alvarez and your truly. Also included in the exhibit are Jorge Gutierrez & Sandra Equihua, creators of the Nickelodean show El TIGRE.
The exhibit opened on Feb. 15 and will run through the conclusion of the Latino Film Festival, on March 18, and is displayed at the House of Charm in Balboa Park in the San Diego Art Institute: Museum of the Living Artist (Boy, I'm glad to be exhibiting at a place called 'The Living Artist'!). There will be an artist reception on March 13, from 7:30pm-9pm, where I and several of the other artists will be in attendance.
Here's a couple of pics of the display courtesy of Patric Stillman, the Director of Operations for the Media Arts Center, San Diego. I'll take my own pics at the reception and post them here. If you're in the area, please check out the exhibit and the film festival.
The superhero movie season has begun and the number one film for the weekend, and in fact the highest grossing movie of the new year:
With an estimated opening of about $45 million, the film proves that critics don't know anything about anything! Like FANTASTIC FOUR, this film has proved to be a huge hit with audiences (the people who actually pay to go see movies!).
When I was a kid, Ghost Rider was one of the books that I really dug. A demon biker with a flaming skull head?! Bring it on, baby! Ghost Rider was one of that second wave of superheroes that came about in the 1970s, what Stan Lee called "The Marvel Age of Comics, Phase 2!". Created by Roy Thomas, Gary Freidrich and artist Mike Ploog, ol fire-skull was one of the haunted Marvel heroes who was part monster/part tragic hero. Appearing in the same era as Man-Thing, Morbius the Living Vampire and Werewolf by Night, Ghost Rider was definitely a product of his era: satanism and bikers.
I enjoyed the film so much on Saturday evening, that this morning after my daily walk I stopped by a local theatre and checked out a matinee screening! Yeesh! The film was written/directed by Mark Steven Johnson, who I thought succeeded with his previous adaptation, DAREDEVIL. His script for this film really did a good job of tying in several incarnations of Ghost Rider. I won't detail the story too much in case you haven't seen it yet, but the character's orgin from his original 1972 appearance appears pretty much intact. I haven't really read much Ghost Rider in the last 20 years or so (Jeez!!!) but I felt the film delivered the Ghost Rider I remember. And what a classic design! Ghost Rider's look and attitude probably sold a ton of tickets alone!
While occasionally the film forced some of the actors to mouth some cliched lines (mainly the villians), I rationalize the fact that the source material the film draws on was corny back when they were created. However, I didn't complain back then as a 10 yr. old, so for me I look at these type of films without too critical an eye. Of course, at the very least, the story has to be solid, but otherwise, let's let the superheroes and supervillians act accordingly. I seem to enjoy my Marvel superheroes way more from filmmakers nowadays than in the actual monthly titles (which I pretty much dropped out of by 1990, with occasional exceptions). To think back in the 70s if we were told there would one day be a big Hollywood Ghost Rider movie....
Watching the film, with it's supernatural storyline, Good vs. Evil spiritual warfare, a black-clad cursed hero, and a graveyard caretaker, I couldn't help but think of the Muerto movie. Contrasting our independant film based on my independent comic, Ghost Rider was a full-blown studio film, with over $100 million in budget, but interestingly began filming the day we shot our last day of El Muerto principal photography: Feb. 14, 2005 (according to the Wikipedia entry) Pretty crazy coincidence. A quick note on El Muerto: I'm currently awaiting word from my producer about the distribution plan for our film. Of course I'll be posting the news here when it breaks!
After last night's screening of Ghost Rider, me and my lady Bernyce stopped by a Denny's for a late-night Banana Split. Over the delicious dessert, I pulled out my sketchbook and asked her for a Ghost Rider drawing. And yeah, she drew the original Johnny Blaze version! Nice!
I doodled up a quickie version of the movie Ghost Rider.
I gotta tell all the guys out there: ain't nothing sexier than a woman who can draw a classic superhero! Well, let's wait for the Ghost Rider sequel and the long-awaited release of EL MUERTO!
The Hero Initiative, a charitable foundation created to provide financial assitance to veteran comic book creators in need, has created a wonderful idea for a fundraiser. Teaming with Marvel Comics, they've commissioned 100 custom covers for Ultimate Spider-Man #100. Almost 100 artists (some created more than one cover) contributed, many of them top artists working in comics today (even director Guillermo Del Toro contributed a sketch!) But also included in the collection are some of Marvel's past creators, like classic 1960s legend John Romita!
Saturday evening, Secret Headquarters, an LA-area comic book shop, held a viewing of all 100 covers. Apparently the only time and place all 100 are going to be shown at once, before they move to auctioning them off at comic conventions and online. Here are some of my personal favorites, but do yourself a favor and check out this link, because you really have to see all 100 of these. Some really terrific looking pieces, and it's great that a good some of money will be raised for The Hero Initiative.
Frank Springer broke into comics with DC back in 1962. Then he went on to work for Marvel in the 60s and 70s on such titles as Nick Fury, Spider-Woman and the Dazzler, as well as one of our favorites here at Javzilla, The Human Fly!! Very cool to see Springer contribure a Spidey!
Another classic Marvel artist who drew one of the covers is Marie Severin, the long-time Marvel artist with stints on Sub-Mariner, Dr. Strange and a very fondly remembered run on The Hulk. Marie is a colorist as well as artist, and in fact one of the very few female pencillers of superhero comics back in the day. I would love to own this piece!
Mike Vosburg has worked for many comics over his career, as well as storyboarding for film and music video (he worked on Eminem's STAN THE FAN!!). I remember his run on She-Hulk back in the early 80s. Go Voz. Check out his Ditko-esque Spidey!
Among modern artists in the collection is Mike Allred, creator of Madman and one of the nicest creators I've met in the comcis world. His Spidey is clean and pitch perfect.
This piece by Al Milgrom really struck me as another standout, and made me realize how much I loved his great SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN covers back in the 80s. Really juicy, bold inking on those!
Sal Buscema. The first comic I bought of the rack was a Marvel Team-Up, with Spidey and the Man-Wolf. The artist was Sal. That was back in the mid 70s, and ever since then Sal has left a huge impact on Marvel Comics by drawing tons and tons of superheroes. Captain America, the Hulk, to name to memorable runs and even ROM, SpaceKnight! But it's his work on Marvel Team-Up and two tours on Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man that makes me acknowledge him as on of the premiere Spider-Man artists of all time! (Steve Ditko, John Romita and Ross Andru the other three...). So, here it is, some 30+ years since I first discovered his Spidey!
These Ultimate Spider-Man covers were blank on the back, so some of the artists would draw on the back, also. My favorite 'back' drawing is done by Herb Trimpe, another one of the classic Marvel Bullpenners. Mr. Trimpe has a well-regarded long time run on The Incredible Hulk, as well as G.I. Joe, Godzilla and Transformers. I fondly remember his 1980 Marvel Treasury, SPIDER-MAN AND THE HULK AT THE WINTER OLYMPICS! In the 1990s, when Marvel was imploding editorially and financially, after corporate raider Ron Pearlman came in and nearly ruined the company. Herb Trimpe was fired via a FedEx letter.
He wrote a very sobering article for the New York Times
about his final years at Marvel. But Herb moved on and became a teacher. Later, after 9/11 hit, he served as a Red Cross chaplain at Ground Zero. A real hero. So, here's his back cover Spidey image.Pretty dang funny, all things considered!
A great collection of art, and for a great charity. Me? I had a real fun time that evening, both enjoying some fine Spider-Man art (such as this great John Romita piece) and my own real-life Mary Jane, Bernyce!
