Jeff Conaway Dead at 60

Jeff Conaway -- star of Grease, Taxi, Battlestar Galactica, and more -- died at about 10:30am PST, according to his manager. Conaway was taken off of life support last night. The actor was found unresponsive in his home last week, as we reported earlier.

While media reports initially blamed a drug overdose, Dr. Drew - Conaway's on-again/off-again doctor, and co-star on Celebrity Rehab - informed fans that the Elvira: Mistress of the Dark co-star had actually fallen ill due to complications from pneumonia. Dr. Drew tweeted that Jeff Conaway seemed to be improving, only to later notify followers that his condition had suddenly worsened.

© C Harris Lynn, 2011

X-Men: Schism

© C Harris Lynn, 2011

More Storms

Hey guys, the electricity has been off since last night and just came on a few hours ago. I slept in because there was little I could do and also because I'm not handling my medicine very well. In fact, there is still one prescription I'm lacking, so who knows where this is going...

Anyway, it's clear right this minute, but I don't have the chance to do a whole lot, so I'll try to schedule a few things for the next day or so, as storms are predicted throughout the week.

© C Harris Lynn, 2011

Spider-Island: Deadly Foes

© C Harris Lynn, 2011

Conaway Comatose

Jeff Conaway -- former star of Taxi, Grease, Babylon 5, and more -- was found unresponsive in his home on May 11^th. He was admitted to the hospital in a coma. While the cause is unknown, doctors strongly suspect an overdose of painkillers.

Conaway appeared twice on VH1's Celebrity Rehab, though he did not make it through either season. Though this is far from the first time the troubled actor has been admitted to the hospital for drug-related issues, doctors said the 60-year-old's recovery is uncertain.

© C Harris Lynn, 2011

X-Men: First to Last, Ch. 3

© C Harris Lynn, 2011

Blogger Still Funky

Hi guys, just a quick note to let y'all know that Blogger is still acting-up. I received confirmation that it isn't unique to my account or anything; others are experiencing (I'm assuming) similar issues with the service, as well.

Again, I am obviously able to post, but some scheduled posts are not going through, plus some duplicates are appearing as Drafts and Scheduled posts and what-not and it's confusing. So far, I've only experienced it a handful of times, but it was enough to throw me off my game for most of the day, as I often spend several hours in the evening and early mornings doing posts which are scheduled for release throughout the day. Sometimes, I schedule them even further in advance. This can be confusing enough until you get used to it, and this added headache is just that.

Anyway, it gives me time to finish a couple of writing projects outside of blogging, as well as read some comic books, so there is an upside... just not for y'all. At least not until this gets sorted-out.

© C Harris Lynn, 2011

The Ultimates

© C Harris Lynn, 2011

Samurai's Blood Offers Free Original Art

Revenge, redemption, honor, and love shine in SAMURAI'S BLOOD, the new six-issue miniseries from Image Comics and Benaroya Publishing. Beginning in June, writer Owen Wiseman, in collaboration with interior artists Nam Kim and Matthew Dalton and cover artist Jo Chen, will introduce a tale of three young samurai battling their way through the world to find their destinies while hiding their identities. Readers can not only learn of the legacy of SAMURAI’S BLOOD, but they can now enter for a chance to take a piece of the journey home as well!

Wiseman explained, "We wanted to give fans who jump on board early a chance to win some one-of-a-kind art. It's the fans really caring and paying attention that keeps us going, so we wanted to do something special for them."

Before the journey of SAMURAI'S BLOOD begins, readers can join the SAMURAI’S BLOOD community on Facebook and Twitter to enter into a drawing for a chance to win an original interior page of SAMURAI'S BLOOD by Kim! There is no purchase necessary to enter; all you need to do is head to the SAMURAI’S BLOOD Facebook fan page or follow @SamuraisBlood on Twitter to be entered to win. Two lucky winners (one from Facebook and one from Twitter) will be chosen at random on the day SAMURAI’S BLOOD #1 hits shelves.

In the first issue of SAMURAI'S BLOOD, the teenage samurai must flee as their village and all they've ever known burns to the ground behind them. Headed for a city they've only heard about in stories, the three young samurai must struggle to maintain their lives and true identities in an era when lineage defined you. Will they rise on the tides of vengeance against the evil usurper who has destroyed the rest of their clan, or will they fall on the swords of fate?

SAMURAI'S BLOOD #1 (APR110406), a 32-page, full-color, action/adventure comic book priced at only $1.00 will be available in stores on June 8^th.

© C Harris Lynn, 2011

Who Will Betray Alpha Flight?

© C Harris Lynn, 2011

Back to Form, More or Less

Hey guys, I got a shipment of promotional materials from Archaia Press yesterday that I've yet to read. It is a very nice kit and I wish more companies still did them; back in The Day, the companies used to send promotional items to retailers, reviewers, and even the fans on occasion, but I assume the cost has risen to the point that they make... wait, don't comic books cost like $4.00 each?

At any rate, I also got my shipment of comics from probably the last two or three months yesterday. I pre-order and the site from which I get my books offers free shipping past a certain level/amount of sale, so I am back to getting comics every few months instead of every few weeks.

And I'm reasonably certain Blogger is half-assed working again, so it's all good. At least until they hose it again.

© C Harris Lynn, 2011

X-Men Legacy #250

© C Harris Lynn, 2011

CLiNT to Carry Jake Ellis

Two years ago, Mark Millar partnered with Titan Publishing to bring about a new magazine. Part comic book anthology and part pop-culture news, CLiNT was aimed not only at dedicated comics fans, but a mainstream audience as well. Now Image Comics’ critically acclaimed ongoing series WHO IS JAKE ELLIS?, by writer Nathan Edmondson and artist Tonci Zonjic, will be serialized in the magazine beginning this August.

"International intrigue? High-octane action? I might be talking about either CLiNT or WHO IS JAKE ELLIS?," commented Edmondson. "But either way, Tonci and I are thrilled to see our international spy dashing across the pages of the hottest publication in pop-culture today."

Starting with issue #8 of CLiNT, WHO IS JAKE ELLIS? can be enjoyed again from the beginning, offering new readers a chance to get hooked. For those who are already up to date with the pulse-pounding series, the fourth issue of Edmondson and Zonjic’s original comic book will be released in just a few weeks.

"We're really jazzed here at CLiNT Magazine to have Nate and Tonci's intriguing, stylish and very cool WHO IS JAKE ELLIS? join the line-up!" CLiNT co-Publisher Nick Landau added.

WHO IS JAKE ELLIS? will have plenty of good company within the glossy pages of CLiNT. Jonathan Ross and Tommy Lee Edwards’ TURF, and Garth Ennis, Amanda Conner, and Jimmy Palmiotti’s THE PRO were also serialized in the same slick fashion.

"CLiNT has done a fantastic job of serializing some truly great creator-owned material, from Mark's own Nemesis, Superior, and Kick Ass 2 to TURF and THE PRO, so we couldn't be happier to see WHO IS JAKE ELLIS? join the club," said Image Publisher Eric Stephenson.

WHO IS JAKE ELLIS? is a psychological thriller about a man named Jon Moore who is running from international hit men, the authorities, and his past, of which he has only partial memories. Jon just happens to have a secret weapon: the ever-present and seemingly omniscient Jake Ellis, whom only he can see and hear.

WHO IS JAKE ELLIS? #4 (FEB110476), a 32-page, full-color comic book priced at $2.99 will be available for sale in stores on June 1^st. The series will also be serialized in CLiNT Magazine, beginning in CLiNT #8 (FEB111147, FEB111148), which is due to hit shelves in the US on June 14^th.

© C Harris Lynn, 2011

Uncanny X-Force #12 - Kubert Variant

© C Harris Lynn, 2011

Mysterious Ways

Crazed serial killers often claim to be doing God’s work, but what if one really was? MYSTERIOUS WAYS, a six-issue miniseries from Image Comics' Top Cow Productions proposes an answer to that disturbing question. This July, video game industry titan Jason Rubin (The Iron Saint) joins forces with artist Tyler Kirkham (Green Lantern Corps, Amazing Spider-Man) to introduce this dark and action-packed thriller that will have you questioning everything you believe.

MYSTERIOUS WAYS takes a number of archetypes from classic crime suspense stories and turns them on their head over the course of the story. Sam, the down-on-his-luck, alcoholic ex-cop is not what he seems. Neither is the sharp-tongued, Gothic bar waitress. Certainly not the by-the-book FBI agent with a perfect arrest record!

"MYSTERIOUS WAYS has been in my head for the better part of a decade, so it's great to see it come to fruition with style," said Rubin. "Tyler and our inker, Sal Regla, are at the top of their game, and I can't thank Top Cow and Image enough for their commitment to bringing out books of the highest quality."

"Jason shows how diverse a story teller he is," added Kirkham. "MYSTERIOUS WAYS is as far from Crash Bandicoot as you could possibly go. It's a sick thrill ride from start to finish!"

Not only will MYSTERIOUS WAYS provide a disturbing new story for horror fans, but beginning the last week of April, readers will also be asked to predict how MYSTERIOUS WAYS plays out - and most importantly how it ends - with a contest in which the reader who submits the closest description of the storyline through the website by the day the second issue hits stores will receive every Top Cow comic released over the next 12 months, absolutely free! Participants must submit their entries through Top Cow’s new community Website, The Barn. The winner will be announced after the last issue ships.

MYSTERIOUS WAYS #1 (MAY110428), a 32-page, full-color comic priced at $3.99, will be available for order in the May issue of Diamond Previews and goes on sale July 6^th.

Originally scheduled for April 25^th; no idea why it did not publish as scheduled.

© C Harris Lynn, 2011

Who Are the Mystery Men?

© C Harris Lynn, 2011

Blogger's Been Down

Hey guys, if you were unaware, Blogger went down on the 11^th and stayed down throughout most of the rest of the week. I was able to access the back-end over the weekend, but I had company and did not work. I cleaned-up the tags on the posts published, as well as those scheduled for the 11^th and 12^th (I couldn't access the blog Friday), and rescheduled the posts that didn't publish as planned.

I am busy on a personal project that's coming along more slowly than I'd hoped or expected, but this Blogger issue was completely on their end and even though it appears to be settled now, the tags were still hosed, so I'm going to post more slowly for a day or two until I'm sure it is resolved.

© C Harris Lynn, 2011

Shinku #1

© C Harris Lynn, 2011

Skullkickers #7 to Preview Shinku

The veteran team of writer Ron Marz (WITCHBLADE, ARTIFACTS) and artist Lee Moder (Wonder Woman, Legion of Super-Heroes) are reuniting with an all-new series at Image Comics. Making its debut in June, SHINKU is the creative team’s first creator-owned work for Image, and readers can get a sneak peek in the back of the equally blood-soaked pages of SKULLKICKERS #7.

"It's an amazing time for creator-owned comics and I really feel that the more diversity and excitement created by new original creations, the better the industry as a whole will be," said SKULLKICKERS creator, Jim Zubkavich. "Ron and Lee are veterans with incredible track records, and I'm proud to help show SHINKU to an audience that enjoys action and entertainment."

"This is a story I've had rolling around my head, in one form or another, for a decade," explained Marz. "So finally getting to tell it, and getting to tell it with the right creative team, is an absolute joy. When a creative team clicks, it's like a jazz combo improvising. Everybody riffs off of everybody else, and produces something greater than any of the parts. I feel like that's what we've got going on here."

In the first issue of SHINKU, readers are introduced to the sole survivor of a once-proud samurai clan: Shinku. In modern Japan, Shinku still secretly continues the charge of her ancestors, waging a solitary war against a clan of powerful vampires that have eluded detection for centuries. Marz and Moder have merged samurai and vampire lore in this epic fusion of martial arts and horror that has Comic Book Resources calling it, "a vampire tale that returns the creatures of the night to their monstrous roots."

Marz spoke of his early inspiration for the new series: "I grew up watching Universal and Hammer horror films on Saturday afternoons, so where I come from, undead creatures who want to drink your blood are the bad guys, not tortured, sensitive souls. This story is the bastard child of those movies, plus some Akira Kurosawa samurai majesty and some John Woo action.

"I'm always talking about comics needing more genre diversification," Marz concluded. "Hopefully SHINKU provides some of that by mixing horror, martial-arts action, and samurai adventure."

SHINKU #1 (APR110409), a 32-page, full-color, action/horror comic book priced at $2.99 will be available in stores on June 1^st. A five-page preview of SHINKU #1 will be on display in the back of SKULLKICKERS #7 (MAR110598), due in stores May 25^th for $2.99.

© C Harris Lynn, 2011

Alpha Flight #1 - Fear Itself

© C Harris Lynn, 2011

50 Girls 50 Contains More Frank Cho Art

Image Comics' upcoming new 50 GIRLS 50, the sexy sci-fi epic co-created by Frank Cho and Doug Murray, will be fit to bursting with fantastic art! Along with the outstanding work of Axel Medellin, winner of the talent search for the perfect 50 GIRLS 50 artist, Cho himself will be contributing his own distinct art to the universe of 50 GIRLS 50.

Besides the gorgeous covers, Cho will also be providing a two-page epilogue after each issue of the upcoming four-issue miniseries. And, as if that wasn't enough, Cho's character designs and breakdowns will be on display as backup material!

"I've always been a science-fiction fan since I saw Blade Runner and Aliens," Cho commented. "I saw the beautiful pages Axel was producing, saw how much fun he was having, and just couldn't resist. I had to jump in and have some fun myself! The two-page epilogue that I wrote and drew was completely unplanned and spur of the moment...

"Okay, it was an excuse for me to draw hot women."

Newcomer Medellin added: "I'm honored to be working with Frank Cho, a real legend in the comics biz! His work has inspired me and instructed me, like so many other young artists. To be working with him now is like a dream come true. It's safe to say that the 12-year-old me would not have believed me if I told him!"

50 GIRLS 50 #1 (APR110392), a 32-page, full-color comic book priced at $2.99, will be landing in stores June 1^st. A five-page preview of 50 GIRLS 50 #1 will be available in ELEPHANTMEN #31 (FEB110456) on May 11^th for $2.99.

© C Harris Lynn, 2011

Spider-Island: Cloak & Dagger #1

© C Harris Lynn, 2011

Immortality is a Curse

Fresh from the recent success of Joshua Hale Fialkov and Rahsan Ekedal's critically acclaimed ECHOES, Minotaur Press has once again paired up with Top Cow Productions and Image Comics to bring readers a gritty new four-issue miniseries. LAST MORTAL, a noir revenge story with a supernatural twist by writer and Top Cow Publisher Filip Sablik (THE DARKNESS II: CONFESSION, PILOT SEASON: ASSET) and writer John Mahoney with artist Thomas Nachlik (PILOT SEASON: FOREVER), will be in stores soon.

LAST MORTAL tells the tale of Alec King, a born loser who could never succeed at anything. When Alec's best friend and partner in crime's latest get rich quick scheme leaves their operation forever altered, he is left at rock bottom. Will he find a way to break his pattern of continued failure and reach a better day?

Top Cow Publisher and writer Filip Sablik said, "I'm incredibly excited and proud to see this series released as a creator. Alec's story is one that my co-creator John and I have been working on for roughly 15 years. The combination of a grounded, street-level revenge story and the more supernatural, personal journey Alec undergoes has a unique, wide appeal held together brilliantly by Thomas Nachlik's striking, bold art."

"Last Mortal is a book that is near and dear to our hearts and is a story we have been writing in one form or another for most of our lives," added Mahoney. "The street-level pulp setting for this four-issue miniseries asks the question: What can a man accomplish with a second chance when that opportunity is forced upon him against his will?"

Nachlik spoke of his collaboration with the two co-creators on LAST MORTAL: "Filip Sablik and John Mahoney - a dream team of writers - after working on this script for so many years had a clear vision of their concepts but were open to new ideas at the same time. That's the perfect combination for every sequential artist working on such a complex and unique story concept."

Readers who want to meet the creators while picking up the first issue of LAST MORTAL should make sure to visit Collector's Paradise in Canoga Park, CA on Saturday, May 21^st. The store will be hosting a LAST MORTAL book release party from 7 PM to 10 PM. There will be a signing with co-creators John Mahoney and Filip Sablik, an art show of Thomas Nachlik's original work from the first issue, a live DJ, and free drinks. And to top it off, Sablik will be getting a tattoo live at the event of the ouroboros symbol that is seen on the covers! For more information about the event, visit http://comicsandcards.net.

A video trailer of the new series can be seen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCNfDf1bgLk. Trailer sound design, score, and voiceover are by Joshua Boden.

LAST MORTAL #1 (MAR110522), a 32-page, black and white, supernatural noir comic book priced at $3.99 will be available on May 18^th. ECHOES HC, collecting the entire 5 issue series as well as a ton of extras including sketches, script pages, process pieces, and more, will be available in stores on June 22nd for $19.99.

© C Harris Lynn, 2011

Comics: George Carlin

© C Harris Lynn, 2011

Severed

Eisner nominated writer Scott Snyder (American Vampire, Detective Comics), writer Scott Tuft and New York Times Best-Selling artist Attila Futaki (Percy Jackson) have announced a new project with Image Comics, set to debut this August. Image has built a deserved reputation as the industry leader for providing readers with quality science-fiction and horror material, such as the massively popular titles THE WALKING DEAD, CHEW, and HACK/SLASH. Like those titles, SEVERED is unlike any other monthly series and is sure to be a hit with comic book and horror fans alike.

"SEVERED is a unique story that is extremely close to my heart, and in order to maintain complete creative control with the comic, Scott Tuft and I knew that it needed to be creator-owned," Synder commented. "We are extremely happy Image is giving us the platform to release SEVERED."

The accomplished writing team of Snyder and Tuft are collaborating on the character-driven horror script that uses the landscape of the past to tell a story that is fresh, new, and entirely relevant today. Add the exquisitely subtle style of Futaki's painted illustrations, and you have a comic that will sneak up on you, sink its teeth in, and never let go.

"I'm having such a great time bringing SEVERED to life," artist Attila Futaki said of his work on the series. "Snyder and Tuft have created dynamic characters and an engrossing world that is a thrill to realize. The old-fashioned and precious world is a pleasure to draw, and I am very excited about getting blood all over it!"

"When Scott and I first saw Attila's art, we knew he was the one to bring our story to life," added Tuft. "His art goes above and beyond the call and it keeps getting better. Not only is it scary, but his ability to capture the emotions of the characters and the tension of a scene is truly unique. We are so lucky to have signed him up."

Snyder continued: "This story digs deep into the American psyche, exploring a time when a vast network of rail supported a society of vagabonds, and when the automobile made even the darkest corners of the country accessible to everyone. Tattooed traveling salesmen, black-faced minstrel men, cross-dressing tramps: SEVERED is filled with unexpected characters and tells a story that is not only uniquely American, but certainly one of the scariest things I have ever written."

SEVERED is mostly set in 1916 and follows Jack Garron, an idealistic 12-year-old who has taken to the road in search of his father, a wayward minstrel. Along the way, he meets up with a mysterious, charismatic salesman whose pearly whites cover the razor sharp teeth that he uses to feed on the innocent. Jack soon finds out that out on the roads and rails of early 20^th century America, nothing goes wasted.

SEVERED #1, a 32-page, full-color, horror comic book priced at $2.99, will be available for order in the June issue of Diamond Previews and goes on sale August 3^rd, 2011.

© C Harris Lynn, 2011

New Mutants #29

© C Harris Lynn, 2011

Goings-On

As some of you are aware, this has been a record-setting year for weather events in the U.S. and I am located in one of the areas that has been affected. As I've posted here at least a dozen times, the local electric company is at least 20 years behind every other company in the nation. My power goes out literally whenever someone in the neighborhood sneezes too hard, and so far this year, I've spent about four entire days without power.

I had to throw out everything in the refrigerator following the first outage, which lasted 72+ hours, and almost exactly a week later, the power went out for another 12 hours. I didn't lose any food that time, but it was partly because I had so little to lose! Add these outages to the two to three days I spent without internet access, and I was unable to work for almost an entire week last month!

If you've been following the national news, you also know that a young girl was allegedly kidnapped from her home in a nearby community. Holly Bobo has been missing since April 13^th and the police have used what the rest of the country considers "unusual" investigation tactics -- namely refusing to release 911 calls, intentionally misleading media and other investigators, changing their story, and worse. These are not at all "unusual" tactics for Decatur County law enforcement; this is the type of thing local residents have dealt with for years and federal authorities have willingly overlooked for at least as long, despite countless reports, trials that go nowhere, and more. Yet even though there is now a 20-year-old girl missing, no one seems to find it disturbing enough to actually bother doing anything about it.

Because of the deafening silence surrounding the Holly Bobo case, the community has been upturned. Residents for miles around have locked their doors and windows and more people are openly carrying guns. And make no mistake about it, these people are as bad as Los Angelians: They will use them!

The simple truth is that Decatur County is a poorly-educated, thoroughly corrupt, and ultra-religious community that lives in fear of those who "police" it. Most locals believe the "investigative tactics" being employed have served only those police officers and their cohorts, and absolutely no one else. A county prone to xenophobia and distrust has grown even more insular and it has taken its toll, as gossip spreads in the absence of factual information. There has been a lot of finger-pointing and tongue-clucking, yet no one has any idea if the "authorities" involved are any closer to finding this girl than they were the day she was reported missing.

And though we are all trying to hold it together in the hopes that Holly Bobo will be found alive and well and returned safely to her home, many are beginning to doubt there ever was a kidnapping -- and with good reason. The story has changed numerous times, possible suspects have been questioned and arrested without being reported to the media, homes and properties have been searched illegally and without just cause (we have heard), and literally everyone who has dared to offer information of any kind has drawn unwanted attention to the point that no one wants anything to do with any of it.

As I write this, there have been no reported breaks in the Holly Bobo case and meteorologists are predicting more bad weather headed this way. Residents in Memphis are being evacuated from their homes to avoid the rising waters of the great Mississippi and temperatures will be in the 90s from now until the end of the week, when thunderstorms and possible tornadoes are expected.

Just in time for Friday the 13^th.

© C Harris Lynn, 2011

Avengers Academy Point One

© C Harris Lynn, 2011

Deadlands

Westerns, one of the truly original American genres! From books, movies and comics, the genre has always held a special place in the hearts of fans. This summer, Image Comics and Visionary Comics, along with Strider Nolan and Pinnacle Entertainment, are bringing westerns to comics in a big way. But not just any western... the weird western! With a mix of horror, steampunk, and the supernatural, the old west was never a more frightening, or weird, place than with DEADLANDS!

The old west will get a fresh new take in the DEADLANDS comics with the exciting interpretations of a list of superstar talents. Those contributing their masterful storytelling to the series include: David Gallaher, Steve Ellis, Jimmy Palmiotti, Justin Gray, Lee Moder, Ron Marz, Bart Sears, Steve Niles, and Francesco Francavilla.

Ron Marz, who also heads up the project as series editor, stated, "It's been amazing. All these guys have been wanting to do a western, and there it was, the perfect chance. The books have each taken shape by creator choice. We couldn't have hoped for better."

C. Edward Sellner, Creative Director for Visionary and writer of the four-part backup series appearing in each book, also commented on the enthusiasm of the teams, "We just keep hearing how much fun everyone is having, and this stuff looks like some of the best work of their careers. I think everyone loves westerns, and everyone loves a scary story, so when you combine the best of both, you get something everyone can love."

While Deadlands is based on the popular RPG game from Pinnacle, one doesn't have to be a gamer to love the books, explained Marz, "If you love westerns, if you love horror tales, if you love good comics, great art and storytelling, you'll love these books. Part of my job was to make sure these books were accessible to all."

The first book out of the gate is DEADLANDS: THE DEVIL'S SIX GUN by the Harvey award-winning team of David Gallaher and Steve Ellis. In classic Faustian tradition, a weapons maker comes to America to pursue the American dream in the former colonies. Instead, he becomes immersed in plots and manipulations to gain unearthly power through the supernatural Ghost Rock. His goal? To make a gun that can kill anything, including the powerful Hellstromme! Its a journey that will cost him everything he loves, including his soul!

DEADLANDS (APR110410), the first 32-page, full-color, one-shot in this series of weird westerns, will be available in stores June 15^th, 2011 for $2.99.

© C Harris Lynn, 2011

Fantastic Four #4

© C Harris Lynn, 2011

A Good Marksman Costs $1.00

The battle for New San Diego will begin this July for just $1 when Image Comics and Benaroya Publishing introduce MARKSMAN! This new six-issue miniseries will feature the action-packed story of Dave Baxter, an acclaimed new writer/producer who is making his comics debut with such experienced comic book artists as Javiar Aranda (Star Trek), Garry Leach (Marvelman), and Tomm Coker (UNDYING LOVE).

MARKSMAN begins 60 years after the nation's oil supply has finally run out and debts have been called in, resulting in a civil war that has splintered America into warring fiefdoms. New San Diego is a technocratic utopia that offers the last bastion of peace and prosperity, provided you live within its walls. Drake McCoy is its best protector. McCoy, an expert marksman, defends the city from the numerous threats in the wasteland outside the walls. But when the oil rich Lone Star state sends a powerful army to steal New San Diego’s energy technology, even Drake’s leadership and skill may not be enough to fend off the siege.

This action-packed series contrasts the classic taste of a western against the harsh backdrop of a post-apocalyptic future. With the first issue debuting just in time for San Diego Comic Con, including a SDCC exclusive variant cover, this is one comic you won’t want to miss! Watch as San Diego experiences a battle the likes of which you could never have imagined.

MARKSMAN #1 (MAY110435) is a 32 page full color action adventure comic book that will hit stores on July 20th with the low cover price of just $1!

© C Harris Lynn, 2011

Captain America #1 - Neal Adams' Variant

© C Harris Lynn, 2011

50 Girls 50 Preview in Elephantmen

Before he became the regular artist on ELEPHANTMEN, astonishing newcomer Axel Medellin was selected from a number of gifted applicants in the talent search for Frank Cho and Doug Murray's 50 GIRLS 50. With the first issue of their four-issue sci-fi miniseries set to debut this June, Richard Starkings is showcasing Axel's 50 GIRLS 50 work in his own sci-fi series, with a preview set to run in ELEPHANTMEN #31, on sale May 11^th.

Starkings commented, "Axel is clearly the hardest working artist in comics, and this is obviously a big year for him. It's hard for me to believe today that he presented me with a fully painted ELEPHANTMEN sample page over three years ago and now 22 gorgeous pages of full-color art every month! 50 GIRLS 50 shows yet another side to Axel and I for one can't wait to lick every page!"

"I'm so glad that Axel is the new regular artist for ELEPHANTMEN," added Cho. "Not only is Axel a superb storyteller, he's one of the most dedicated artists in the business. I can't wait to see how his work progresses over the months ahead!"

Readers enjoying Axel Medellin’s depiction of the dystopian future of ELEPHANTMEN will see an altogether different side of his work as they're introduced to the very special crew of the ship ESS Savannah. The gritty streets of Los Angeles circa 2259 are replaced with the sleek interiors of a state of the art spacecraft and the lush forests of alien worlds for a dangerously enjoyable journey through space.

ELEPHANTMEN #31 (FEB110456), a 32-page, full-color, science-fiction comic book, including a five-page preview of 50 GIRLS 50 #1, will be available in stores May 11^th for $2.99. 50 GIRLS 50 #1 (APR110392) will be landing in stores June 1^st for $2.99.

© C Harris Lynn, 2011

Alpha Flight #1 - Eaglesham Variant

© C Harris Lynn, 2011

Sorry Guys

Another day lost to rain and non-paying advertisers. One of these places, Blogsvertise.com, actually withheld payment on a DirecTV post and (I assume) shared my personal information with the company so DirecTV could try to collect on a bogus debt!

Although I sent the company a letter demanding they cease and desist all attempts at contacting me, I forgot to have it registered or whatever, so I absolutely expect them to harass me further. At one point, DirecTV had two collection agencies calling me simultaneously! I'd have to find the records, but the final count for the number of collection agencies they sicced on me came to about nine - within something like a three month period.

This was over $60.00. Sixty Goddamned dollars.

Although I don't know the extent of Blogsvertise.com's relationship with DirecTV or their other advertisers, I would be extremely wary of doing business with them. They have been chronically late with payments, intentionally obtuse in customer service, and basically a real pain in the ass to deal with. In fact, I'd stopped dealing with them for these reasons some time ago and was literally e-mailed by some new chick, asking me to return!

This company still owes me money, but it's actually worth it - even in my impoverished state - to just walk away. And DirecTV has harassed the living shit out of me over 60 motherfucking dollars for going on two years now! Figure this has anything to do with it?

© C Harris Lynn, 2011