Blog de Ryan McLelland

EyeWannabe.com Launches

2008-03-08T06:19:00.000-08:00

The blog is moving.

The home of my new blog is going to be at:

EyeWannabe.com.

Please come read and come often. It will be more of a regular blog than a comic blog...but I don't expect much more comic news in the months to come anywayz...

-Ry

Sentinels Anthology

2008-02-25T10:39:00.000-08:00

I was sitting around this weekend watching Power Rangers with my son when I got two packages. One was the Aeon Flux cartoon DVD collection that I had bought for 10 bucks (Swwwweeeeeeeeeeeet) and the other was three copies of the new Sentinels Anthology!

During my long tenure as a comic book critic Sentinels was one of my favorite indy books. I quickly developed a friendship with its writer/creator Rich Bernatovech and we've remained great friends ever since he dropped the first two graphic novels in my lap.

Long story short: After 4 graphic novels the Sentinels story was finished...ALMOST. Rich asked his friends to do stories for a new graphic novel the Sentinels Anthology and he asked me to do one for Serpenta - who guest starred also in a Philly crossover.

From Rich's lips:

Serpenta
Ryan McLelland of “Wise Intelligence” and “Philly” fame wrote Serpenta’s story. Its knock-down funny, just as you’d expect from Ryan.
Andrew Charipar is the artist on Serpenta’s story and you’ll see why he is the only artist that could do it perfectly. You can check out some of Andrew work and his excellent original series, “Tales from the Cornerstone”, at http://www.misfitcorner.com.

The GN turned out GREAT and what he said was true...my story was pretty much knock-down funny. ;) The book will be in stores SOONISH...I know he's going through Previews so it might not be in bookstores for 3 some odd months... but via Rich's site http://www.sentinelsonline.com you can order it. Well...doesn't seem like you can order it YET...but soon baby soon!

Paybacks are a bitch though...I roped Rich into helping me scan pages for the new Wise Intelligence miniseries that will be out later this year!

War of the Independents Peek

2008-02-12T11:35:00.000-08:00

My buddy Dave Ryan is putting together a MASSIVE event: War of the Independents. It brings together over 25 years of indy characters into one massive crossover! It looks phenom and...Philly is a part of it as The Trio will be running around in the book. I think Quik is even guesting in another book as well...though I'm not sure what is happening with that either. Ryan = Clueless.

I'm not sure how often The Trio will be in the book but I'm betting it won't be much. However it'll be cool to see Philly in comic stores somehowz.

If you are on Facebook there is a group and Dave's ComicSpace website is here!

Here's a page from the book...not colored yet...but there's The Trio's Quik joining in the fun!!!

Philly #1

2008-02-05T18:45:00.001-08:00

So this came out in May 2007 but as I stopped my blog before that...I thought I'd share.

Philly #1 came out from Arcana Comics - GREAT STUFF!!!

The comic STILL continues online at drunkduck.com/Philly.

I'm starting the ideas of putting together the graphic novel...

AND the characters will appear in the upcoming 'War of the Independents' crossover!!!

More to come in the coming weeks.

NEW REBOOT COMING SOON...

2008-02-04T17:47:00.001-08:00

Why a reboot??? WELL...

Philly TPB coming soon...

Wise Intelligence miniseries coming soon...

For now check out:
http://www.drunkduck.com/Philly.

In the upcoming weeks I'll be looking at both titles plus my new stories in Sentinels Anthology and the Grunts trade paperback!

-Ryan

Columns and Articles

2007-03-16T06:02:00.000-07:00

COMICS BOOK MAKER: SPECIAL EDITION
Taking a break from his ongoing run, Ryan McLelland reports back from the "Don't Quit Your Day Job" panel from New York Comic Con...

YOUR INDY WEEKLY: GRAVYBOY #1
A simple spelling error, and instead of being the master of gravity...well, the title speaks for itself, and Ryan checks out GravyBoy...

IT CAME FROM THE QUARTER BIN
Ryan roots around and fishes out the Sam Kieth classic, The Maxx #1 from the early '90s. Don't have this gem? You should...

BACK TO LIFE, BACK TO REALITY
Jim Valentino gets back to his roots in May with Drawing From Life, a return to autobio comics. We spoke with the creator about the project...

YOUR INDY WEEKLY: LIVING WITH SHINE

2007-02-20T06:50:00.000-08:00

Ryan turns his spotlight to the web, and finds Oscar Amador and Raul Valdes' Living With Shine, telling the tale of a new, kinda, dorky hero...

YOUR INDY WEEKLY: AMOUR/EVIL INSIDE #3

2007-02-16T07:05:00.000-08:00

Ryan McLelland takes a look at Approbation's Amour/The Evil Inside #3, an anthology mixing romance and horror stories...

COMIC BOOK MAKER 2.5: PITFALLS

2007-02-15T07:52:00.000-08:00

Ryan mulls over some of the pluses, minuses and annoyances of creating Philly in the smaller side of the industry...

YOUR INDY WEEKLY

2007-02-07T13:51:00.000-08:00

Ryan takes a look at Steve Earhart and Rudolf Montemayor's Hard-Boiled Comics, and really, really digs it...

Embrace The Suck: Dirty Love!

2007-02-07T13:49:00.000-08:00

I've just seen the amazing Jenny McCarthy movie Dirty Love and wow does it embrace the suck! Click here to read!

COMIC BOOK MAKER 2.0: OF TRAILER THINGS

2007-01-30T17:20:00.000-08:00

Ryan McLelland checks in along his journey of bringing Philly to life, and this week, it's all about making the trailer for the web...

IT CAME FROM THE QUARTER BIN

2007-01-29T17:46:00.000-08:00

Bill, Ted, a drunk Death, a stolen time-traveling phone booth, and Evan Dorkin. What could be better for a quarter?...

LIFE AFTER THE CAPE

2007-01-29T17:43:00.000-08:00

Once a powerful hero, Ethan Falls now is a...nothing. What happened, and how does a hero cope after having it all? Image's After the Cape tells all...

YOUR INDY WEEKLY: SENTINELS BOOK 4

2007-01-19T01:21:00.000-08:00

Ryan checks out the conclusion of Rich Bernatovech and Luciano Vecchio's epic story of the children of heroes, and finds that it rocks...

YOUR INDY WEEKLY: OOH PIE!

2007-01-12T14:29:00.000-08:00

Demons, a scarecrow creature, an upbeat dad, and a possessed teddy bear. It sounds so wrong, but as Ryan finds, it's so right...

IT CAME FROM THE QUARTER BIN

2007-01-11T19:03:00.000-08:00

Ryan digs deep and finds Robert Kirkman's Capes #2 in the two-bit box. Is it a hidden gem among the rocks? Click on in...

COMIC BOOK MAKER II: THE WIND UP AND ...

2007-01-08T09:04:00.000-08:00

Ryan McClelland recounts how he prepped and finally pitched his upcoming Arcana miniseries, Philly, and the responses it got...

An editorial of sorts

2007-01-07T15:55:00.000-08:00

It's a good time.

2006 wasn't the best year for my personally but it saw several big events in my life. I got to meet Joe Quesada for the first time and was thrilled to knew that he knew my work. It was great seeing him two days later when I was invited to see Kevin Smith's Clerks 2 five months before it came out in theaters (That's another story how far back Kevin and I go way back...) and when the DVD comes out it is fun to see me in the documentary and in the credits.

I covered comic shows and I took part in my first show, my second anthology issue of Wise Intelligence coming out. Sure it's my little pet project, but it was fun to see and I got to put together my college comics that will see print in about a month as the 'Chris and Vernbugg Omnibus'.

But that brings me to 2007. The release of Chris and Vernbugg. The release of Philly. The return of my Comic Book Maker column to share with everyone how the whole comic came to be and the long arduous process it actually took. Two new Uptown Girl comics that I wrote will be coming down the road and I plan on doing a new Wise Intelligence anthology should I find any artist willing to put some pen to my writing.

It feels good because I've had some great articles released over on Newsarama these past few weeks, articles that actually impacted the comic book world and told stories that if I didn't tell them, no one would ever actually know. Tales about Jim Shooter's lost Icon One comic book universe. How Howie Neodechen found himself lost as his Mr. Scootles comic was bootlegged.

Newsarama has been great to me and I know the feeling is mutual. I love writing for the largest comic book resource in the world. And it is nice to know that there are alot of readers who read It Came From The Quarter Bin, Your Indy Weekly, and many of my other articles. I find it great that other sites pick up my articles and put them on their site because I broke the news.

And I'm happy. Happy that this year Philly is coming out. Midnight Judge should see release this year. Wise Intelligence Anthology #3 and maybe I'll even find an artist interested in drawing the miniseries.

Most of all I'm just happy that anyone who reads what I write reads what I do and enjoys it. Thank you. I'll keep writing as long as you keep reading...and I love you all for it.

So this is sort of like a Merry X-mas, Happy Hannukah, Happy New Year, and all that jazz. There's alot of great stuff to come...so keep your eyes peeled. Even if you don't, I'll be sure to blab enough to make you know.

-Ryan

YOUR INDY WEEKLY: BODIES

2007-01-04T12:44:00.000-08:00

Ryan hooks up with the digest sized Bodies v1 by Michael Murphy, and is pleasantly surprised. Click on in to find one you shouldn't miss...

COMIC BOOK MAKER 2.0: 1 - STARTING AGAIN

2007-01-03T07:42:00.000-08:00

After chronicling his successful attempt at an indy book, Ryan McClelland is back, trying his hand at superheroes with "The Trio"

Embrace The Suck: DOA - Dead Or Alive

2007-01-02T08:57:00.000-08:00

I've decided that every time I watch an Embrace The Suck movie (a film that is so bad that it is just GREAT - making it a great drinking game in which every time the film gets 'worse' you drink!) I'm going to post a great review of it over at IMDB.com

So the very first one is a review for the movie adaptation of videogame DOA - Dead or Alive. MY GOD WAS THIS MOVIE SO CRAPTACULARLLY FANTASTIC. Click the link to read!

PRINTING MR. SCOOTLES

2007-01-02T08:55:00.000-08:00

All HC Noel wanted was to see his comic, Mr. Scootles, in print. What happened next is a cautionary tale for all indy comic creators...

JIM SHOOTER: THE ICON THAT COULD HAVE BEEN

2006-12-31T17:57:00.000-08:00

Ryan McLelland tells the true but hereto untold story of the Icon One comic book universe set to launch under Jim Shooter's direction 3 years ago...

The Weekly Columns

2006-12-15T07:27:00.000-08:00

Your Indy Weekly: Apocrypha #1: Ryan takes a look at John Christ's Apocrypha #1, and finds the problem that plagues many indys: decent story, unpolished execution...

It Came From The Quarter Bin: Babe #1: Back in his Next Men days when he was on a creative tear at Dark Horse, John Byrne came up with Babe. Ryan takes a look...

Wise Intelligence #2 Now Available To Buy!

2006-12-10T14:12:00.000-08:00

Though it premiered at SPX back in October, Wise Intelligence #2 is now available over at ComiXpress to purchase. You can click right here to order Wise Intelligence #2!!! What is it about?

The comic team of Servo, Whorfin, Dean, and JK are back once again to spew forth the best tales of college that have never been told. Join the boys as they blow up a radio station, get past a block-buddy, cheat on girlfriends, and much more.

Written by Ryan McLelland (Newsarama, Arcana's Philly), Scott Hess, and Jeff Stewart and drawn by HC Noel (Mr. Scootles), Bob Lipski (Uptown Girl), Adam Talley (Pleasant Life), and Dave LaFuente!

The issue also is a flipbook which features a 5 page preview of The Salesman by HC Noel, Ryan McLelland, and Matt Webb!

20 pages | Black & White | $3.00 US

Some Writing Announcement

2006-12-08T05:31:00.000-08:00

As I am hard at work figuring out the rest of the plot for Philly #5 so the boys can get to work on the next storyarc, I'm pleased to announce a few more books I've recently been attached to.

#1 is the Midnight Judge - a book by my fellow Evolution Studios member Nathan Morris. MJ was first seen gracing the pages of ES's DNA Anthology and now I'll be writing a six-issue miniseries following the adventures of Midnight Judge as he gets trapped into an Indiana Jones-like adventure.

#2 is a 4-page short story which I'm thinking is just a new story that will be in the trade paperback collection of 'Dr. Oblivion's Guide to Teenage Dating' - which is about a supervillain and his daughter who ends up dating a teenage superhero. The book was alot of fun and myself along with my Philly artist Jim Hanna will be doing the fun story which will feature Bomb-Aid (think Kool-Aid Man but as a Big Ass Bomb).

So just thought I'd share some new projects that are just up on the horizon. Howie and I are still working out characters and plot details on another wacky superhero series we want to do a la Venture Bros and the Uptown Girl comics (two issues to be exact) I wrote a year or so ago will be seeing the light of day sometime mid-2007, it looks like probably around the time Philly #1 hits comic book stores.

All that AND I'd still like to do a few more Wise Intelligence stories for a third issue...or at least find an artist who would love to draw the three-issue miniseries that I've already had written for two years now. It just seems I'm too busy at the moment to find someone...maybe post-Holiday season.

Quarter Bin: Warriors of Plasm #2

2006-12-08T05:24:00.000-08:00

Ryan pulls Warriors of Plasm #2 from the box, and revels in the short-lived Jim Shooter & David Lapham early '90s goodness...

Indy Weekly and Quarter Bin

2006-12-06T05:41:00.000-08:00

Quarter Bin - Guy Gardner Reborn #2: Originally a cynic, Ryan finds that Guy Gardner Reborn #2 actually made him care about the character...a little...

Your Indy Weekly - Joony Tuff #1: Ryan checks out David Bloodsaw's first full-sized effort, and digs it - hard. Don't go missing this one if you can help it...

Phill'ys MySpace Page

2006-11-29T17:13:00.001-08:00

Visit the Philly comic MySpace page at myspace.com/phillythecomic.

INDY WEEKLYS

2006-11-29T17:13:00.000-08:00

Guide to Teenage Dating by Jeff Pina catches Ryan's eye because, let's face it, a supervillain dad would have some interesting views...

OSLO #1

Quarter Bin: Miami Mice #4

2006-11-16T05:28:00.000-08:00

Ryan continues his look at the anthropomorphic black and whites of the '80s, and finds Mark Bode's Miami Mice #4 with a slew of guests...

Quarter Bin/Indy Weekly

2006-11-14T05:41:00.000-08:00

Quarter Bin: It was the late '80s. The Turtles had spawned a slew of imitators, all drawing on pop culture. Ryan checks out Hamster Vice #6 ..

Your Indy Weekly: There's No Place #1 and 2

Quarter Bin: Darkhawk #2

2006-11-02T15:37:00.001-08:00

Ryan must have found something he liked in last week's look at Darkhawk #1, because he's back with a look at Darkhawk #2...

Josh Eiserike Talks Class of '99

2006-11-02T15:37:00.000-08:00

Ryan McLelland talks with John Eiserike about his award-winning tale of a high school prom that is more than what it seems...

YIW: Fat Mitch #1

2006-11-01T18:19:00.000-08:00

Skinny girl rejects fat guy. This all too familiar love story takes a different turn in the Timony twins' debut issue...

ICFTQB: DARKHAWK #1

2006-10-26T16:58:00.000-07:00

In Part One of his Quarter Bin Dilemma, Ryan picks up that true gem from the '90s - Darkhawk #1. But wait - the story is to be continued?...

Your Indy Weekly: Super Real #3

2006-10-24T15:28:00.000-07:00

Ryan checks out Jason Martin's Super Real #3 and, despite some faults, finds that he's a fan of the super-rookie team...

WIse Intelligence story in BAM! Anthology now available!

2006-10-23T15:32:00.001-07:00

The BAM Anthology was a great success at SPX...600 some odd pages of great, fantastic indy comics. Of course, the Wise Intelligence story 'Lesson Not Learned' is included in the comic. The story by myself and drawn by HC Noel is also in Wise Intelligence #2, but that won't be available for sale for another few weeks. Until then you can pull yourself into some of the best indy comics ever put together into one book!

You can order the BAM! Anthology by clicking right here!

IT CAME FROM THE QUARTER BIN: YOUNGBLOOD #1

2006-10-23T15:32:00.000-07:00

Ryan digs into the Quarter Bin and pulls out a late '90s gem - an Moore/Skroce issue of Youngblood. Good times, good times...

Your Indy Weekly: Dr. Id

2006-10-18T06:24:00.000-07:00

Your Indy Weekly: Fresh from SPX, Ryan checks in with a winner and a...well anyway, he looks at the groovy Dr. Id and Banana Man...

WEEKLY COLUMNS

2006-10-16T20:50:00.000-07:00

YOUR INDY WEEKLY: An old cartoon character, a 70 year old curse, portals to hell, and a cute demon in a schoolgirl outfit. It's Mr. Scootles #4...

IT CAME FROM THE QUARTER BIN: With Dr. Strange getting some attention with The Oath, Ryan digs into the Quarter Bin for an oldie but a goodie with the Doc...

MELTDOWN BRING THE HEAT AT IMAGE

2006-10-09T20:45:00.000-07:00

A new Ryan article over at Newsarama:
A dying hero decides that with his last remaining days, he's pulling off the gloves and taking out all the enemies he's made. Enter the world of Schwartz and Wang's Meltdown...

Non-existent Blog Graphics

2006-10-05T04:43:00.000-07:00

Sorry the page looks so bare...when the Forgotten Universes site went down I lost the graphics for this page. No need to worry, I'll be doing 'something' with it all shortly!
-Ryan

Wise Intelligence #2 Premieres at SPX

2006-10-05T04:39:00.000-07:00

Wise Intelligence #2 will premiere 10/13/2006 at this year's SPX in Bethesda, Maryland! A follow-up to last year's anthology issue, this issue features 4 stories and a sneak peek at the Salesman! Stories are done by:
The book contains the stories:

'What? Me???' by Ryan McLelland and David LaFuente (reprinted from Ragtag #3)

'Captain Cockblock' by Jeff Stewart and Adam Talley

'Lesson Not Learned' by Ryan McLelland and HC Noel

'Radio' by Scott Hess and Bob Lipski

Additionally the book will be a flip book featuring 5 pages of the book Howie and I did together called 'The Salesman' - a sci-fi funny mystery book about a man working for a shady organization who sells weird products to unsavory people. Along with his best friend Otis and armed with a magic toaster, The Salesman is full of fun and intrigue...well...at least the 5 pages that you'll read.

More information can be found at the MySpace page at:

www.myspace.com/wiseintelligencecomic

Your Indy Weekly: Super Teen Topia #1

2006-10-05T04:37:00.000-07:00

YOUR INDY WEEKLY: SUPER TEEN TOPIA

Ryan plows through the indy scene, and pulls up Forcewerks' Super Teen Topia #1. He likes it, and explains why you should too...

IT CAME FROM THE QUARTER BIN: JLE #5

2006-08-28T05:55:00.000-07:00

Ryan casts his net back to a time when "Bwa-ha-ha" echoed through the halls of the JLA, and there were offices everywhere. Behold: Justice League Europe #5 ...

Your Indy Weekly: Ultimate Peanuts

2006-08-24T06:16:00.000-07:00

Ryan takes a look at Ian Harker's satirical take on the iconic comic strip. Sure, it's not for everyone, but how does Harker do it carrying the Peanuts kids into the future? ...

Forgotten Universes Website is DOWN.

2006-08-22T05:12:00.000-07:00

After three years it looks like the site that spewed for information on comic books about the New Universe, Ultraverse, Defiant, Broadway Comics, and Impact Comics is down for good.

I started the site to house information on some of the comic I really loved, mirrored by the format used over at ValiantComics.com. The site was decently popular and later on was also the home for information on my 'Wise Intelligence' comics.

However the site was being put up by free server space courtesy of my good friend Mikey. With Mikey leaving the company he was with it looks like the remaining people didn't want to house all my gigabites and took the site down. So is the site dead? Good question...

The answer is probably with a maybe not. If I find a good site to host it I'll put it back up (Mikey was nice enough to say he'd host it again if he gets his own new server). Until then I'm setting up a Wise Intelligence MySpace page (and another for Chris and Vernbugg) that will mirror the already created Philly MySpace page. This way you can just click along from one comic to another via MySpace quick and easy.

-Ryan

Weekly Columns!

2006-08-17T06:30:00.000-07:00

And I'm back. Not that I haven't been writing the past few months but the blog has kind of went by the wayside. Now with more Uptown Girl guest-spots, Wise Intelligence #2, a Chris and Vernbugg one-shot, and the upcoming Philly release...I'll be back to blogging all about comics and such.

So here are my weekly columns from Newsarama:

It Came From The Quarter Bin: Hitman #12 - Ryan roots around in his local quarter bin and finds something he's always been meaning to check out - an issue of Ennis & McCrea's Hitman from DC..

Your Indy Weekly: A Self-Portrait Comic #2 - Literally. Ryan checks out Carlos Mangual's self-published A Self Portrait Comic #2, and gives the creator props for putting himself out there without pretense...

INDIE AFTERPARTY @ NYCC ANNOUNCED

2006-02-23T05:06:00.000-08:00

INDIE AFTERPARTY @ NYCC ANNOUNCED
Press Release

Indie After Party For New York Comic Con Attendees Announced

Attendees of the First Annual New York Comic Convention are invited to attend the Indie After Party on Saturday February 25th from 8-11 PM at The Twins Pub in New York City. The party will take place on the entire upstairs level of the bar and will feature free food, cash bar, a gallery of comic book art, and comics for sale.

In addition, there will be light entertainment throughout the evening and two special events: The Comic Art Guild 5 Year Anniversary and SSS Comics' Scavenger Hunt.

Party organizer Philip Clark is hopeful about the event. "A lot of comic pros, mainstream and independent alike, have been waiting for a show like this... What Rich and I set out to do was to have a place where fans and creators could come hang out, mingle, and show their love for independent comics."

"There are so many creators in the city, but most of us don't know one another. We're hoping this will be a way to break the ice as well as welcome creators from out of town that have come to the convention," fellow organizer Rich Bernatovech explains.

The Twins Pub is located just 3 blocks away from the convention center, midway between the 34th Street subway station and the Javitz center.

Indie After Party
Saturday, February 25th
The Twins Pub
421 9th Avenue (between 33 and 34 St.)
New York, NY 10001
8PM - 11PM

Performing live:
Zorickh Lequidre
Philip Clark
Melvin Ylagan
Christian Beranek

Professionals Attending (partial list):
Rich Bernatovech (Sentinels), Philip Clark and James Rodriguez (QUANTUM: Rock of Ages), Peter Palmiotti (inker for Marvel and DC), Christian Beranek (Dracula vs. King Arthur), Keith Murphey (Comic Art Guild), Andrea Grant (Minx), Saul Colt (Eclipse and Vega), Sam Vera (Crazee Comics), Ryan McLelland (Forgotten Universe), Pat Loika (Artist, Path of Armageddon), A. David Lewis (Lone and Level Sands), Randy Gentile (Virtual Calligraphy),
Jason Rodriguez (Elk's Run), Julian Darius (Sequart.com)

Sponsored by Dreamchilde Press, Drumfish Productions, Comic Art Guild, SSS Comics, Crazee Comics and Silent Devil Productions

For more info please visit http://dreamchildepress.com

CONTACT: PHILIP CLARK dreamchilde@hotmail.com

QUARTER BIN: VEXT #1

2006-02-23T05:04:00.000-08:00

IT CAME FROM THE QUARTER BIN: VEXT #1

YOUR INDY WEEKLY: ALIEN IN MY TOILET #1

2006-02-15T07:12:00.000-08:00

A lone alien on a mission to take over the earth. Is he up for the job? Ryan looks at Samuel Vera's indy comic...

Truth, Justin, and the American Way

2006-02-10T16:46:00.000-08:00

We caught up with Scott Kurtz to check in on the new Image miniseries he's writing with Aaron Williams. Joins us in his '80s memories...

The Weekly Columns

2006-02-08T05:26:00.000-08:00

Ryan checks in on creator' Kevin McShane's latest outing of a blue-skinned alien who's just trying to make it in Hollywood...

It may smell old, but that doesn't mean it's not fun. Ryan digs out Impossible Man Summer Vacation Spectacular #1...

YOUR INDY WEEKLY: STYX TAXI

2006-02-03T05:59:00.000-08:00

Death and taxis. Not as gruesome as you'd think. Ryan takes a look at Styx Taxi: A Little Night Music, and likes what he sees...

IT CAME FROM THE QUARTER BIN: CEREBUS BI-WEEKLY #10

2006-01-28T08:34:00.000-08:00

Ryan goes bargain bin diving again this week, and comes back to the surface with Cerebus bi-weekly #10 from 1989...

QUARTER BIN AND INDY WEEKLY:

2006-01-24T06:10:00.000-08:00

YOUR INDY WEEKLY: PLEASANT HYMNS COLLECTED VOLUME 1: Ryan checks in on Adam Talley's Pleasant Hymns, finding that, as a mirror held to geek culture, it's a touch flawed...

IT CAME FROM THE QUARTER BIN: PETER PORKER #9: He's had a bit of a revival lately, and Ryan goes bin diving to find Peter Porker, Spider-Ham #9 for a fond remembrance...

Indy Weekly and Quarter Bin

2006-01-18T09:08:00.000-08:00

Your Indy Weekly - Hate Your Friends #4: Ryan takes a look at one of the latest offering from Space Monkey comics, finding a new take on "you can't go home again"...

It Came From The Quarter Bin - Lobo #3: Ryan's back, digging in deep to the musty wasteland. His booty this time? 1991's Lobo #3 from the original miniseries...

PHILLY - Now on MySpace!

2006-01-11T10:36:00.000-08:00

As the comic gets closer to being in print I have started a Philly page on the popular MySpace site. This way anyone who wants some info can head right there and find out the latest and greatest on Philly, the creators, art, and whatnot.

So click here or type in http://www.myspace.com/phillythecomic and go check it out!

JIMMIE ROBINSON ON BOMB QUEEN

2006-01-11T10:34:00.000-08:00

The villain rules the city, and...the people like it? We hit up the Bomb Queen creator for the scoop on his new Image title...

IT CAME FROM THE QUARTER BIN: SPIDER-MAN #1

2006-01-06T03:31:00.000-08:00

Ryan dives in and pulls out a gold-coated gem: Spider-Man #1 by Todd McFarlane. How does it stand up after 15 years?...

YOUR INDY WEEKLY: MR. BIG

2006-01-04T10:42:00.000-08:00

Two frogs sit on a lilly pad a discuss the possible murder of a large snapping turtle. It's all about the politics of the pond in Mr. Big #4...

2 Quarter Bins and a Your Indy Weekly

2005-12-23T01:49:00.000-08:00

Heading back to the late '80s for a dusty gem, Ryan dives in and pulls out Wild Dog #1 by Max Collins and Terry Beatty...

The title says it all: Living With Zombies. Ryan checks out a new indy title that you must. not. miss....

Ryan had to expand his search a little, but was able to find a seasonal entry with the Marvel Holiday Special 2004...

Philly #1...The First Panel

2005-12-14T10:25:00.000-08:00

So the lettering is almost done...and I'm excited. Hee hee. Thought I'd share just the first panel from page one...fully pencilled, colored, inked, and lettered. YAY!

JUST CLICK ON THE ABOVE PANEL FOR A FULL SIZE LOOK!

Philly Logo

2005-12-14T10:22:00.000-08:00

Thoughts?

YOUR INDY WEEKLY: MIRACLE FORCE #16

2005-12-14T09:58:00.000-08:00

Looking for an offbeat team that operates out of the basement of a very famous building? Ryan checks out Miracle Force #16...

RIDLEY ON THE AMERICAN WAY

2005-12-13T07:24:00.000-08:00

It's the '60s, and the US government wants heroes to motivate, guide, and serve as propganda. It's all about The American Way...

WHAT'S A NEW UNIVERSE?

2005-12-13T05:05:00.000-08:00

Has the hulabaloo left you in the dust? We've got a quick primer on Marvel's New Universe, what it was, and its legacy...

YOUR INDY WEEKLY: THE VENGER #1

2005-12-07T10:32:00.000-08:00

Heard about The Venger - Dead Man Rising? Don't worry - Ryan has, and he's got all the details for you this week...

Writing The Runes At Image

2005-12-05T18:33:00.000-08:00

Their first Image issue nearly here, we caught up with the Runes of Ragnan creative team for a quick chat about the series...

A Look At Both Philly Covers!

2005-12-01T08:57:00.000-08:00

Cover A is by Philly artist Jim Hanna and inked/colored by Philly's Raph Hedon. Cover B (AKA the Alternate cover) is drawn/inked/colored by Jean-Paul Mavinga. What does this all mean? It means Philly #1 is very close to completion.

IT CAME FROM THE QUARTER BIN: MAGNUS ROBOT FIGHTER #1

2005-12-01T08:55:00.000-08:00

In perhaps the quickest turnaround ever, Ryan lands iBooks' Magnus Robot Hunter OGN for a quarter. Is it worth it?...

YOUR INDY WEEKLY: SUPER REAL #1

2005-11-30T07:30:00.000-08:00

Ryan dips into the indy well again, and this time finds some honest to gosh superheroes in Jason Martin's Super Real #1.

Ryan Stuff From The Past Week

2005-11-27T13:33:00.000-08:00

BEST YOU'VE NEVER READ: SENTINELS
Ryan McLelland takes a look at an indy superhero title you've probably never read, but you might want to give a try...

YOUR INDY WEEKLY: UPTOWN GIRL #31
Ryan McLelland is back with his indy spotlight, this time casting it on Bob Lipski's quirky and funny Uptown Girl...

NEWSARAMA HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE (My 3 recommendations for the holiday season):
Ryan McLelland says…

(1) The Complete Calvin and Hobbes - Sure it may seem a bit pricey at $150 but how can you put a price on one of the best comics ever? EVER. With 3 hardcovers that total 1,440 pages you get to read every single Calvin and Hobbes comic ever done. Think you'll get bored reading? I don't think so. Think you'll never want to reread them? I think not. Think they'll be something you can enjoy over and over again? Absolutely.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/07...=books&v=glance

(2) Uptown Girl DVD - Local Minnesota filmmaker Ben Mudek decided to adapt Bob Lipski's Uptown Girl comic book into a short film. The result was a combining of two actual issues of the comic and made into a great 25-minute feature. Uptown Girl is one of my favorite indy comics and the film brings nothing but love to the 'small screen'. The DVD includes commentaries by Mudek, Lipski, and the cast, deleted scenes, outtakes, and more. Seeing an indy comic on screen has never been better.
http://www.smallpressswapmeet.com/product.php?ID=627

(3) Ranger Danger T-Shirt - Clerks is one of my top 10 movies of all time (easy since I'm from Jersey and once slaved in a video store). Now Kevin Smith has gone and filmed a sequel to the movie that started it all for him. In the film sequel Randal, played by Jeff Anderson, wears a Ranger Danger t-shirt. Ranger Danger has been the long talked about sci-fi project that Smith has been talking about doing. The t-shirt itself brings out a great retro Flash Gordon feel that simply looks...cool.
http://www.jayandsilentbob.com/rardatfrcl2.html

Ryan McLelland is a staff writer for Newsarama.com and author of the upcoming series Philly.

New Stuff...

2005-11-17T08:22:00.000-08:00

It's a classic issue for bargain hunters that Ryan's found this week - Quantum and Woody #1. Come on in and bask in the gloriousness...

Read mostly one type of comic, and you'll miss some great stuff - case in point: Runoff by Tom Manning. We caught up...[

New Quarter Bin and More...

2005-11-13T14:51:00.000-08:00

Jim sent me over the first five pages of issue 2...it is looking GOOD. I'll post a tiny preview tomorrow. Raph SHOULD be done the inking/coloring today...so hopefully the book will be on its way to being lettered this week.

Alot of my articles didn't run this week except the Quarter Bin: Remember the '90s? Sure you do. Remember Warriors of Plasm #1 from Defiant? Ryan does. Should you?...

More tomorrow...glad to be back in Jersey. Here's who I was chillin' with this past week. You know Rev Run??? Well I do. ;)

Kazaleh - Short But Sweet

2005-11-07T16:51:00.000-08:00

On vaykay still down in FL but I was checking my e-mail and got this from Captain Jack's creator Mike Kazaleh - who let me use his infamous indy cartoon cat in Wise Intelligence issue 1. Mike wrote:

Ryan,

Thanks for sending your comic along, it looks swell. Congratulations on its publication.

Best of Luck,

MK-

Looks swell...hell yeah. Glad to have used Captain Jack (and Cerebus!) in the book.

Gone For A Week

2005-11-04T13:42:00.000-08:00

I'm outtie for the next week. Gotta luv vaykay.

In any case Philly #1 should be inked/colored by the 13th which only leave the lettering courtesy of our letterer Jim Reddington. With that completed Philly #1 is in the can and we are off to the publisher!!! SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOON!

Check out Newsarama next week for Warriors of Plasm #1 covered in 'It Came From The Quarter Bin', Uptown Girl #31 covered in 'Your Indy Weekly', and hopefully new articles on Sentinels and Runoff. When I get back I'll put up some easy to click-on links.

IT CAME FROM THE QUARTER BIN: VENOM #1

2005-11-03T14:50:00.000-08:00

Cast your mind back to the '90s - Venom and mullets where everywhere. Ryan checks out one while keenly analyzing the other....

Read about how people love comic characters with mullets!

YOUR INDY WEEKLY: BROKEN #1

2005-11-01T05:54:00.000-08:00

Ryan takes a look at Lonny Chant's Broken, pitched as High Fidelity meets Mallrats. Does it stand up? Ryan takes a look...

IT CAME FROM THE QUARTER BIN: BRUCE LEE #1

2005-10-27T07:13:00.000-07:00

Risking his own taste, Ryan digs out Malibu's Bruce Lee #1 from 1994. Can he review it without making movie analogies? Nope...

Your Indy Weekly: Lackluster World #3

2005-10-25T08:00:00.000-07:00

Continuing his focus on indy titles that you need to know about, Ryan hunkers down with Eric Adams' Lackluster World #3...

IT CAME FROM THE QUARTER BIN: DARKHAWK #42

2005-10-20T07:03:00.000-07:00

Ryan's back this week with more delicious cheese, this time, of the variety called Darkhawk #42, circa 1994 Marvel...

Bored? Buy A Wise Intelligence #1!!!

2005-10-19T12:26:00.000-07:00

Eleven stories for 3 bucks! Watch Servo, JK, Whorfin, and Dean live their college lives full of beers, babes, and boobs! (No actual boobs shown...sorry). Featuring a special gues-appearance by Captain Jack and Cerebus this fun-filled issue is written by myself with art by HC Noel, Phil Juliano, Scott Kellogg, Bob Lipski, and more! Click here to buy one! Or two! HELL...BUY TEN!

INDY WEEKLY: THE EPIC & TRUE* LIFE STORY OF CHE GUEVARA

2005-10-18T13:39:00.000-07:00

So who was Che Guevara? Ian Harker offers up his take in The Epic & True* Life Story of Che Guevara, and Ryan takes a look...

The Salesman - First Five Pages!

2005-10-18T05:30:00.000-07:00

Click right here to be whisked off to HC Noel's website to preview the first five pages of The Salesman! This is the project that I wrote, Noel drew, and colors by Matt Webb. Go take a look.

Philly #1 Cover

2005-10-15T05:57:00.000-07:00

Last week we all saw Philly's alternate cover and this week I thought I'd share the newly inked cover for Philly #1. Soon it'll be colored...then Jim, Raph, and I will be taking the world by storm...

Because I Wanted To Share...

2005-10-14T16:20:00.000-07:00

Clerks was a revolutionary movie in New Jersey...especially for me. When it became the big thing on video I was working at Blockbuster and God be damned if I wasn't watching it every single night at 11PM while we started to close down the store. Before Kevin Smith was the man he was today...he was still a God in New Jersey. Before Mallrats and everything else that came later...he was just some guy from Red Bank who made this KICKASS movie about New Jersey ...and did it all on his credit cards. Clerks was what made me sit down and write Wise Intelligence and made me want to be the writer I am today.

So...Clerks 2. It's the movie Kevin is doing now. Is it going to be good? Bad? Horrible? Incredible? Electric Boogaloo? God only knows...but this picture of Dante and Randal now working at Mooby's...well...it pleases the hell out of me. Will it be good? Who cares...give me Randal. He's a beserker.

It Came From The Quarter Bin: Catwoman #72

2005-10-13T05:45:00.000-07:00

Taking the opportunity to go back a few years, Ryan pulles out Catwoman #72, when she wore purple and...weighed more...

Your Indy Weekly premieres at Newsarama!

2005-10-12T11:32:00.000-07:00

My new weekly column 'Your Indy Weekly' premiered today with a look at an amazing indy comic called 'Raised By Squirrels'.

I first found this comic at SPX last year and was thrilled to meet Monica and Bram (the creators) this year....and more excited to pick up the TPB of RBS.

Click on over to Newsarama to read the debut column!

Return of It Came From The Quarter Bin!

2005-10-11T13:24:00.000-07:00

After 5 of so months of nothing my first new Quarter Bin article is up over at Newsarama!

It's for Manhunter #17...a classic cheese issue if I do say so myself.

Lots more to come over at Newsarama including an article on Sentinels Book 3, an article on Runoff, and a whole new column called 'Your Indy Weekly'.

Until then, click right here to go read last week's all new 'IT CAME FROM THE QUARTER BIN!'

First Look: Mavinga's Alternate Cover

2005-10-08T05:48:00.000-07:00

Jean-Paul Mavinga has posted the Alternate Cover(s) on his blog and I thought to share it here as well.
The alternate is of the character Katt...looking back all provacative like. The two covers? Well I wanted one with the flashy background and one with just the white. Which one will be used? Who knows...I still have yet to make that decision.
What do you all think?

Philly....and more.

2005-10-07T12:15:00.000-07:00

Work has finally begun on inks/coloring issue 1. While Raph is hard at work doing that Jim has just started his pencils of issue 2. I finally got around to typing up issue 3 and have just started work on writing issue 4. Jean-Paul Mavinga has already finished the alternate cover to issue 1, a very very very very sexy cover of Katt which will help this book fly off shelves (the cover is THAT damned good).

As it looks...the book will probably be finished by the end of this month. I'm not sure what that means on a release date. Guess I'll know as it gets closer.

Found a colorist for normal JOE...he's doing the 5 pages as we speak. Some of the guys from the studio look to be doing the WI series...so more on that shortly. Would be nice to finally get the next 3 ishs off the ground.

Just a quick update...things are in motion...the waiting game just sucks.

A Big Update

2005-09-29T10:45:00.000-07:00

Well after five months in Georgia I am finally back in good ol' New Jersey! What does that mean? Well...........

First off it means I have access to FTP meaning I can start updating the Forgotten Universes website on a more constant basis. It also means I can get 'out there' more and start selling Wise Intelligence at conventions and stuff...which I couldn't do before.

The 'Philly' contract has been signed and Raph is hard at work inking and coloring all the pages of issue over in France. Jim did an AMAZING job pencilling the first book and he is currently prepping to start issue 2. Issue 3 is written but not typed, something I will do this week as I start writing issue 4 (which will have a guest appearance by two of Rich Bernatovech's Sentinels).

The Salesman continues to move forward. Howie and I shopped it around at SPX last weekend and I've started submitting it wherever I can. The book looks GREAT and hopefully someone will snatch it right up without a second thought.

The 5-page normal JOE story is still coming along and I still don't have a regular artist for the next 3 issues of Wise Intelligence. I guess I'll try to find someone once these other two books launch.

Updating the site slowly...please be patient. :)

Ryan

Philly: Coming to a Comic Store Near You!

2005-09-01T14:05:00.000-07:00

That's right ladies and gents...no news has been good news. Sorry for not posting in the past few weeks but I wanted to wait until I had some good news. Do I have good news? YES! Am I going to say what it is right now? Um....no.

Laugh. I know, I'm an idiot. I just signed the contract this past week to bring Philly to a nice big publisher and the creative team of Jim, Raph, and myself are hard at work on Philly #1 and (soon) Philly #2. I'm sure they'll be a formal announcement...so I want to wait for that before breaking the news. Great, eh?

Until then...go buy Wise Intelligence #1 or some of the Uptown Girl issues. :)

Wise Intelligence #1 is On Sale!

2005-08-11T08:48:00.000-07:00

I'll repost this because I don't have access to updating my website until I get back to Jersey...so every couple posts I'll just throw this up.
Just go on over to the ComiXpress website to snag a copy, and mebbe pick up some other cool comics as well.

Philly has possibly found a home!!!

2005-08-03T09:29:00.000-07:00

That's right, after working on this project for the past couple months - it looks like a company wants to publish Jim and I's little book. It's too early to tell and discussion is going to marred by WizardWorld: Chicago which starts tomorrow...but hopefully more information will come forth on the comic in the next week or two!

Uptown Girl #28 Now On Sale!

2005-08-03T09:26:00.000-07:00

That's right kids you can click right here to go to Small Press Swapmeet and purchase the second issue I've written of Bob Lipski's Uptown Girl!

YOU KNOW YOU WANT IT!

For a description, see below or just click on the link.

UPTOWN GIRL #28 DESCRIPTION

2005-08-01T17:29:00.000-07:00

While not available to buy online (I'll post the link when it becomes available), Bob posted the info for my next Uptown Girl issue over on the Uptown Girl website.

UPTOWN GIRL ISSUE #28:

SPECIAL GUEST WRITER: RYAN MCLELLAND!

Rocketman wins $5000 in the lottery and treats Uptown Girl and Ruby Tuesday to a weekend in Atlantic City! As Rocketman tries to win even more money gambling, Uptown Girl and Ruby begin to unravel a mystery involving some of New Jersey's most infamous mobsters!