Clover Press to Publish the Graphic Novel Adaptation of THE GREAT GATSBY by Writer Ted Adams and Artist Jorge Coelho

Posted on 03/21/2023 by Pop-Culture Spectrum

P-CS was lucky enough to read an advance copy of this current Kickstarter collection of the Clover Press version of a Great Gatsby comic adaptation. It is a quite faithful adapatation of a long loved classic novel. Jorge Coelho’s draftmanship make it a compelling read and a “pageturner” as it has been since inception as controversial writer F. Scott’s first drafts to the film adaptations of Baz Luhrman and even video games. Read on for the pres release and more information and images.

Partnership with Literacy Non-Profit Reader to Reader Aims to Put the Book Into Hands of New Readers

(March 21, 2023) The Great Gatsby has captivated readers for generations and serves as a testament to the power of literature to transport us to another time and place and capture the essence of the human experience. Now F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic is being brought to life in a whole new way with The Great Gatsby: The Essential Graphic Novel Adaptation. Writer Ted Adams (Diablo House, The Island of Dr. Moreau) and artist Jorge Coelho (Rocket Racoon, Time Before Time) have created a faithful graphic novel adaptation that captures all of the beauty and power of the original work, with stunning illustrations and compelling storytelling sure to delight fans of the book and newcomers alike.

The graphic novel adaptation of The Great Gatsby, now funding on Kickstarter, is a hardcover edition featuring art by Jorge Coelho that brings a never-before-seen level of visual beauty and detail to the novel. Every panel is carefully crafted to capture the essence of the original work while creating a unique reading experience that is accessible to all.“Jorge and I started working on our adaptation of The Great Gatsby in 2019 and while the world has seen many changes over the last four years, Fitzgerald’s work has lost none of its ability to entertain,” said writer Ted Adams. “Gatsby is rightfully seen as a classic example of US literature but I fear that label may turn off readers who think the work is hard to read or dull. The opposite is true, the novel is very readable and exciting. Jorge’s art is extraordinary and captures the 1920s in all of its glory and decadence.”

“A feeling of chaos, confusion and crumbling eras permeated both art and real life during the making of this book, resulting in my largest and most rewarding creative challenge so far,” added artist Jorge Coelho.

The campaign aims to introduce The Great Gatsby to a whole new generation of readers and inspire a love of literature and art through the unique reading experience. Special campaign tiers include library and school donation tiers, both of which will help get the book into the hands of new readers, including a partnership with Reader to Reader, Inc., a public charity dedicated to bringing books, free of charge, to under-resourced school libraries and public libraries across the United States.

“We are delighted to have such an important work of American literature so beautifully brought to life in graphic novel form,” said David Mazor, executive director of Reader to Reader, Inc. “It will be of tremendous value to schools and public libraries.”

“The Great Gatsby was well underway when I joined Clover, and it’s been a real treat to see it take form in this new hardcover. Ted and Jorge have worked hard to faithfully capture the classic American novel into this unique American art form,” said Clover Press Publisher Hank Kanalz. “Gatsby fits alongside our other classic adaptations like The Tragedie of Macbeth, Carmen: The Graphic Novel, and The Continental Op as we experiment with different formats and executions.”

Here’s what folks are saying about The Great Gatsby: The Essential Graphic Novel Adaptation…

“At first I wanted to celebrate this new Gatsby in the same vein as Classics illustrated, but it’s actually better than that. It’s not just a retelling of Gatsby or an overview, but a very strong representation of the original story with sprinkling of the films as well. A home run adaptation!” —Brian Michael Bendis, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Powers, Daredevil, Ultimate Spider-Man

“Captivating and visually stunning—a fresh take on the timeless classic.” —Kami Garcia, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Beautiful Creatures & Teen Titans: Raven

The Great Gatsby: The Essential Graphic Novel Adaptation will be live on Kickstarter on March 21. You can find the campaign here:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/cloverpress/the-great-gatsby-the-essential-graphic-novel-adaptation?ref=2vxv1x.

For updates, follow Clover Press on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. You can subscribe to the Clover press newsletter here.

Posted in Books, Comics, Kickstarter | Comments Off on Clover Press to Publish the Graphic Novel Adaptation of THE GREAT GATSBY by Writer Ted Adams and Artist Jorge Coelho

HELLBOY Creator Mike Mignola and A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS Author Lemony Snicket Team Up For a Unique Edition of PINOCCHIO 

Posted on 03/15/2023 by Pop-Culture Spectrum

Beehive Books Presents the Illuminated Edition of Carlo Collodi’s Classic Novel,  Featuring a Cover and 50+ Illustrations by Mignola, Alongside 100+ Annotations by Snicket 

(March 15, 2023) Renowned Hellboy creator Mike Mignola, award-winning colorist Dave Stewart, and celebrated novelist Lemony Snicket (A Series of Unfortunate Events) are teaming up with Beehive Books for an illustrated and annotated edition of Carlo Collodi’s classic novel PINOCCHIO. This all-new, deluxe hardcover edition includes over more than exquisite original illustrations from Mignola, which breathe new life to the charm, gloom, and chaos of the seminal novel, alongside over 100 full text annotations by Snicket, presented as slipped-in typewritten sheets produced by Snicket during his Pinocchio-induced descent into madness.

The project is part of Beehive Book’s acclaimed Illuminated Editions imprint, the Philadelphia-based company’s distinctive line of book art editions of literary classics which reimagine literary masterworks with all-new covers and illustrations from the world’s greatest graphic artists, including the Balbusso Twins, Rebekka Dunlap, Brecht Evens, Dave McKean, Paul Pope, Yuko Shimizu, Bill Sienkiewicz, Kent Williams, and Jim Woodring, alongside original essays from the likes of Academy Award-winning filmmakers Guillermo Del Toro and Darren Aronofsky and Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Michael Cunningham. The Beehive Books Illuminated Editions feature singular design sensibilities, the highest production values, and a special emphasis on comics and graphic art. Beehive Books is now crowdfunding the PINOCCHIO: The Illuminated Edition on Kickstarter. New York’s Society of Illustrators is hosting an exhibit of Mignola’s full portfolio of yet-to-be-published Pinocchio illustrations, including all the drawings done for the book, as well as additional art not included in the book, including paintings, process work for the project, and an original puppet from Red Nose Studios. The exhibit will be open to the public from March 22nd to July 8.

“I’ve been in love with PINOCCHIO as long as I can remember,” said Mignola. “Probably starting with the Disney film and then really drilled into me when I finally read the Collodi novel. It’s just so brilliantly strange—very very funny and also heartbreakingly sad. It’s one of the two books (along with DRACULA) that I think sort of make me do what I do the way I do them.When Beehive Books approached me about doing a book… Well, at the time, the last thing I wanted to do was take on another project, but once I started thinking about doing Pinocchio I just couldn’t say no. The challenge was to come up with MY version of Pinocchio—much harder than I thought that was going to be but in the end I think I got there.” The Illuminated Edition includes 10 original illustrations from Mignola and colorist Dave Stewart, as well as 40 additional black-and-white spot illustrations from Mignola.

Beehive Book’s PINOCCHIO: The Illuminated Edition  provides commentary by Lemony Snicket, which takes both the reader and the acclaimed writer on a first experience of the iconic novel, chock full of surreal symbolism and commentary.  “For many years I have been curious to see if I, too, will join the tradition of readers completely transformed into lunatics from a reading of PINOCCHIO, and although Carlo Collodi died long ago, I like to think that somewhere, somehow, he is interested in seeing what I might have to say as I read this book and likely lose my mind,” writes Snicket. “Perhaps you are too.”

“Collodi’s PINOCCHIO is one of the most popular tales in the Western world, but perhaps also one of the most mis-remembered,” said Beehive Book’s Publisher Josh O’Neill. “Best known among English-speakers for its sanitized Disney adaptation, PINOCCHIO is in fact a bizarre, fantastical tale in which the series of strange and horrific events that befall a foolhardy wooden puppet-child shed light on the cruelties of society, the redemptions of family, and what it means to be human. The story of Pinocchio, as Collodi told it, is full of betrayals, poisonings and assassins, among other various and sundry bedevilments to go along with all its magic, musicality, humor and warmth. In this edition, Beehive Books spotlights the glorious, troubling strangeness of this text, which truly has no parallel in children’s fiction – or maybe in fiction of any kind.”

PINOCCHIO: An Illuminated Edition comes in three print editions: a slipcase hardcover, a signed and numbered edition, and a sketched and lettered edition. All ten titles in the Beehive Books’ Illuminated Editions series are available through the campaign, and Beehive will offer certain discounts on bulk orders. Each title also comes as a DRM-free digital PDF, which is included along with every print edition. The standard edition is an oversize 9×12″ hardcover, bound in sewn signatures, and housed in an elaborately embossed and debossed die-cut slipcase, silk-screened or foil-stamped with artwork. The interior is printed on creamy, acid-free heavy-weight 140gsm uncoated paper with a fine tooth, and includes dozens of full color illustrations, illuminated letters, and special design pieces. The entire package is designed by Maëlle Doliveux with a restrained graphic boldness, and an unparalleled eye for beauty, clarity and readability. There will also be a signed & numbered edition limited to 250 backers which comes in a foil-stamped slipcase wrapped in natural-fiber binding cloth. The editions have dyed edges, bound-in silk ribbon markers, and specialty bookplates, signed and numbered by Mike Mignola and Lemony Snicket. This edition also comes with a Kickstarter-exclusive foil-blocked 8×11″ print by Mike Mignola. The lettered edition comes in a clamshell housing with enamel plates re-creating Mignola’s artwork mounted onto its French door enclosures, and includes an original Pinocchio drawing from Mignola. All editions include dozens of slipped-in typesheet pages authored by Snicket on a mid-century Smith Corona typewriter.

“I’m happy with what I did and thrilled with how the book is turning out, “ said Mignola. “My thanks to Josh O’Neil for giving me the opportunity and to Maelle Doliveux for her brilliant design work. And, of course, thanks to the great Dave Stewart for stepping in to color the illustrations.”

“Our goal with Illuminated Editions has always been to offer something more than a beautiful edition of a classic text: we want to do something transformative,” said Josh O’Neill. “We frankly cannot believe that these two titans have entered the Beehive to create this unutterably splendid new publication. To have the opportunity to set minds like Mignola and Snicket loose in the untamed wilds of one of the best-beloved yet most mis-remembered texts of all time is not just a pleasure, it’s a profound privilege.”

For updates on Beehive Books, follow them on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. To back the project, head to  Kickstarter.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/beehivebooks/pinocchio-an-illuminated-edition-by-mike-mignola?ref=dgdgse.

Posted in Books, Kickstarter | Comments Off on HELLBOY Creator Mike Mignola and A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS Author Lemony Snicket Team Up For a Unique Edition of PINOCCHIO 

MLW returns to NYC April 6 featuring WAR CHAMBER

Posted on 03/13/2023 by Pop-Culture Spectrum

 

Logo

Billie Starkz vs. B3CCA signed for MLW April 6 in NYC

Major League Wrestling today announced Billie Starkz vs. B3CCA at MLW War Chamber’23 Thursday, April 6 at New York City’s Melrose Ballroom.

🎟Buy tickets at www.MLWNYC.com and on Eventbrite.

The card is an MLW TV taping, airing nationwide in the US and in over 60 countries around the world.

As the women’s featherweight division continues to expand and showcase a new generation of female fighters, two of the most talked about wrestlers will collide in the mecca of wrestling: New York City.

Billie Starkz has been winning bouts and the adoration of the fans since debuting. B3CCA has been making the critical gains to get into title contention. Now the two are set to meet in a high stakes bout with championship implications for the winner.

One of the most talked about up-and-coming prospects in the sport, Starkz, an 18-year-old high school senior, is already 4-year veteran of the squared circle. Fresh off of her first tour of Japan, Starkz’s momentum is at an all-time high as the Louisville native enters a match that could cement her as the next challenger for Taya Valkyrie’s world championship.

An impressive emerging force of a new generation of wrestlers out of the New England area, B3CCA is a breakout star on the northeast wrestling circuit. Igniting roars from the fans with her breathtaking 450 splash, B3CCA has quickly captured the attention of promoters around the world.

With multiple tours of Europe, the “international pop star” has enjoyed high-profile bouts in the UK’s Pro Wrestling EVE organization as well as Germany’s wXw.

With a depth of experience, having trained with some of the best around the world, B3CCA now targets Billie Starkz as the final hurdle to challenging for her first world championship.

Who will prevail?

See Billie Starkz vs. B3CCA LIVE Thursday, April 6th in NYC at MLW War Chamber’23.

CARD

National Openweight Championship

John Hennigan (Champion) vs. Jacob Fatu

Women’s World Featherweight Championship
Taya Valkyrie (champion) vs. Delmi Exo

Willie Mack vs. Real1

Alex Kane vs. Shigehiro Irie

Billie Starkz vs. B3CCA

Signed to appear:
World Heavyweight Champion Alex Hammerstone

Alex Kane

World Middleweight Champion Lince Dorado

Microman

World Tag Team Champions Samoan SWAT Team

Mr. Thomas
Jacob Fatu

Mance Warner

Matthew Justice

1 Called Manders
Calvin Tankman

Rickey Shane Page
AKIRA
Lio Rush
Davey Boy Smith Jr.
Delirious

Sam Adonis

Mandy León
FBI

Tickets start at $15 at MLWNYC.com and Eventbrite. Tickets will also be available day of show at the box office unless the event sales out in advance.

EVENT FAQ
Major League Wrestling shows are interactive. Fans get to not only experience major league action in the ring but have the opportunity to meet some of their favorites before bell time.

MEET AND GREETS
There will be several meet and greet opportunities featuring Major League Wrestling wrestlers and personalities.

DAY OF EVENT INFO
The schedule for the event is as follows:

6:00 p.m.: Early entry for front row ticket holders
6:30 p.m.: Doors open for general public (all ticket holders)
7:30 p.m.: Showtime

MORE ABOUT THE MELROSE BALLROOM:
Located in the heart of Long Island City just minutes away from Manhattan, Melrose Ballroom is one of New York City’s premiere exclusive venues for live performance, music, and entertainment shows.

Melrose Ballroom is located at: 36-08 33rd Street Long Island City, NY 11106.

About Major League Wrestling

Major League Wrestling (MLW®) is a sports media holding company, offering television content, action figures, apparel, live events, and ancillary entertainment. MLW operates live events in major markets throughout the United States and Mexico, including New York, Philadelphia, Dallas, and Tijuana.

One of the fastest growing wrestling leagues today, MLW programming is available in over 60 countries worldwide, including its new flagship series MLW Underground Wrestling on REELZ in the United States airing Tuesdays at 10pm ET / 7pm PT; and MLW Fusion on Pro Wrestling TV in the U.S. and Ayozat TV on SKY in the United Kingdom.

MLW events showcase diversity and the full spectrum of professional wrestling, with athletes representing countries around the world with fighting styles, including: technical, Japanese strong style, lucha libre, King’s Road brawling, MMA, catch wrestling, hybrid wrestling, submission grappling and other disciplines.

For more information visit MLW.com and follow MLW on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
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JEFF LEMIRE, MATT KINDT & DAVID RUBÍN’S POPULAR COSMIC DETECTIVE GRAPHIC NOVEL TO HIT SHELVES IN PAPERBACK THIS SEPTEMBER

Posted on 03/11/2023 by Pop-Culture Spectrum

PORTLAND, Ore. 03/09/2023 — New York Times bestselling writers Jeff Lemire (Gideon Falls, Descender), Matt Kindt (BANG!, MIND MGMT), and internationally acclaimed artist David Rubín (Ether, Beowulf) team for the upcoming graphic novel, Cosmic Detective. This exciting paperback edition of the Kickstarter hit will land on shelves this September from Image Comics.

“Matt Kindt has been one of my closest friends since I’ve been in comics and we’ve collaborated before but never on a creator owned project where we could just go crazy and push each other in the most fun ways we could imagine,” said Lemire. “And there was only one artist who could somehow translate all our cosmic craziness, David Rubín. Cosmic Detective was a blast from start to finish and David made it one of the best looking books I’ve ever been a part of.”

Cosmic Detective is an epic science fiction mystery that asks: when a God is murdered, who solves the crime? Enter our Detective. The murder of a god threatens to tear apart the very fabric of our reality. Only our detective stands in the way of utter destruction. But will the mystery he uncovers be worse than the disaster he’s trying to avert? And will his mind crack under the revelations he’s about to uncover before he can do anything about it?

Kindt added: “Jeff and I had a blast cooking up this story but there was a point in the process while working with David that it was clear that David was possessed by an other-worldly energy and we just got out of his way and tried not to get melted by his cast-off cosmic radiation.”

“Working on Cosmic Detective was a real gift as an artist; that pages are full of surprises and energy,” said Rubín. “I hope that all that energy and love that we put into that book arrives at the hearth of the readers—this is a love letter to them, to the people who love comics, and for Jack Kirby too.”

Cosmic Detective (ISBN: 978-1534399457) will be available at local comic book shops on Wednesday, September 13 and independent bookstores, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, and Indigo on Tuesday, September 19.

Cosmic Detective will also be available across many digital platforms, including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, and Google Play.

Posted in Comics | Comments Off on JEFF LEMIRE, MATT KINDT & DAVID RUBÍN’S POPULAR COSMIC DETECTIVE GRAPHIC NOVEL TO HIT SHELVES IN PAPERBACK THIS SEPTEMBER

THE EXPANSE: DRAGON TOOTH Deluxe Pre-Order Campaign Ends At Over $1.4M

Posted on 03/11/2023 by Pop-Culture Spectrum

Record-breaking Campaign Gives BOOM! Studios The Two
Highest Grossing Spots In Comics On Kickstarter

LOS ANGELES, CA (March 10, 2023) – The epic, immersive universe of THE EXPANSE has captured the imaginations of science fiction fans around the globe for over a decade – first in the Hugo and Dragon Award winning novel series and then in a critically acclaimed, Hugo and Saturn Award winning television series (now streaming on Amazon Prime) – instantly entering the highest echelon of genre-defining sci-fi. But there is one chapter of THE EXPANSE saga that has never been chronicled or revealed… until now!

Under the direct supervision and creative guidance of THE EXPANSE creator James S.A. Corey and Alcon Television Group, superstar writer Andy Diggle (The Losers, Green Arrow: Year One) and rising star artist Rubine (Voltron: Legendary Defender) bring you, THE EXPANSE: DRAGON TOOTH, the first new story since the stunning finale episode of THE EXPANSE Season 6 which will finally reveal the hidden history between Babylon’s Ashes (Book 6) and Persepolis Rising (Book 7),

●    THE EXPANSE: DRAGON TOOTH DELUXE PRE-ORDER CAMPAIGN ended its first day of pre-orders on Kickstarter at a total of $342,214, officially becoming BOOM! Studios’ biggest Kickstarter opening day of all time, beating out the previous record held by Keanu Reeves’ BRZRKR in 2021.

●    THE EXPANSE DRAGON TOOTH DELUXE PRE-ORDER CAMPAIGN ended its first week of pre-orders with a staggering $827,802, breaking Kickstarter’s record for a week one performance in the comic book project category.

●    THE EXPANSE: DRAGON TOOTH DELUXE PRE-ORDER CAMPAIGN is Kickstarter’s #1 Most Funded and #1 Most Backed campaign in the Comic Books Sub Category.

●    This record-breaking campaign has cemented the series as BOOM! Studios’ second biggest Kickstarter campaign of all time and the #2 Most Funded campaign for the All Comics Category behind Keanu Reeves’ BRZRKR.

●    Between THE EXPANSE: DRAGON TOOTH and BRZRKR, BOOM! Studios hold the two most funded comic campaigns on any crowdfunding platform of all time. As well as the two most funded comic (subcategory) campaigns on Kickstarter thanks to THE EXPANSE: DRAGON TOOTH and Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.

●    This is the latest in a series of successful pre-order campaigns for BOOM! Studios, including four campaigns in 2022 (Irredeemable, Giant Days, The Dark Crystal, Klaus) that each ended with totals in the six figures.

●    BOOM! will continue to leverage Kickstarter as a platform for pre-orders this year, with several more unannounced campaigns to be revealed soon, including one at the end of the month!

“Every single day for the past month, you The Expanse fans, have completely blown away every expectation for this campaign,” said President of Publishing and Marketing, Filip Sablik. “Your passion, love, and overwhelming support and dedication to this world will continue to inspire the care and craftsmanship going into every aspect of The Expanse: Dragon Tooth. All of us at BOOM! Studios, our partners at Alcon and James S.A. Corey, Andy and Rubine cannot wait to get these brand new stories in your hands.”

THE EXPANSE: DRAGON TOOTH is the newest release from BOOM! Studios’ eponymous imprint, home to critically acclaimed original series, including BRZRKR by Keanu Reeves, Matt Kindt, and Ron Garney; Something is Killing the Children by James Tynion IV and Werther Dell’Edera; Once & Future by Kieron Gillen and Dan Mora; Eve by Victor LaValle and Jo Mi-Gyeong; The Many Deaths of Laila Starr by Ram V and Filipe Andrade; Wynd by James Tynion IV and Michael Dialynas; Grim by Stephanie Phillips and Flaviano; Briar by Christopher Cantwell and Germán García; Stuff of Nightmares by R.L. Stine and A.L. Kaplan; The Approach by Jeremy Haun, Jason A. Hurley, and Jesus Hervas; Damn Them All by Simon Spurrier and Charlie Adlard; Behold, Behemoth by Tate Brombal and Nick Robles; Specs by David M. Booher and Chris Shehan; Once Upon a Time at the End of the World by Jason Aaron, Alexandre Tefenkgi, Leila del Duca, and Nick Dragotta; Know Your Station by Sarah Gailey and Liana Kangas; A Vicious Circle by Mattson Tomlin and Lee Bermejo; Mosely by Rob Guillory and Sam Lotfi; Harrower by Justin Jordan and Brahm Revel; The Neighbors by Jude Ellison S. Doyle and Letizia Cadonici; and the upcoming The Seasons Have Teeth by Dan Watters and Sebastián Cabrol. The imprint also publishes popular licensed properties, including Dune: House Harkonnen from Brian Herbert, Kevin J. Anderson, and Michael Shelfer; Mighty Morphin Power Rangers from Melissa Flores and Simona Di Gianfelice; Magic from Jed McKay, Rich Douek, and Ig Guara; and The Expanse: Dragon Tooth by Andy Diggle and Rubine.

For continuing news on THE EXPANSE comic book series and more from BOOM! Studio, stay tuned to boom-studios.com and follow @boomstudios on Twitter.

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Purim and Clowns: A History – An Essay by ChatGPT

Posted on 03/07/2023 by Pop-Culture Spectrum

As noticing young men dressed as clowns for Purim I asked them what the correlation was. Clowns are generally considered sad from a historical standpoint, laughed at, not with. After asking many of them at different locations from different temples for a good answer to clowns for Purim since the holiday is happy and clowns represent sad (most did not understand the question), one said that clowns were just cheap and easy. I accepted this answer but I felt there was something that could be studied further. I fed information into ChatGPT to research on clowns, Purim, connections, correlations and the discrepancy of clowns being sad and how this maybe was still not a problem. Here is the essay it returned.

Clowns have a long history in various cultures as entertainers and performers, and Jews have made significant contributions to the world of clowning. While Purim, a Jewish holiday that commemorates the salvation of the Jewish people from Haman, is not directly connected to clowns, there are some interesting connections that can be drawn between the two.

Jews have been involved in the world of entertainment for centuries, and many have made their mark as clowns. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many Jewish immigrants to the United States turned to the circus as a means of earning a living. They often worked as clowns, acrobats, and other performers, and formed close-knit communities within the circus.

One of the most famous Jewish clowns of the early 20th century was a man named Julius Marx, who performed with his brothers as the Marx Brothers. The Marx Brothers were known for their zany antics and physical comedy, and their films and performances continue to be popular to this day.

The Red Skelton Show (1951) | MUBIAnother famous Jewish clown was Red Skelton, who began his career in vaudeville and went on to become a successful comedian and television star. Skelton was known for his ability to evoke laughter and joy from audiences with his comedic timing and physical humor.

While the history of Jews as clowns is fascinating, what does it have to do with Purim? While there is no direct connection between the two, there are some interesting parallels that can be drawn. Purim is a holiday that celebrates the salvation of the Jewish people from Haman, a Persian royal advisor who had planned to kill all the Jews in the Persian Empire.

One of the key themes of Purim is the idea of turning things upside down. On Purim, it is customary to dress up in costumes and engage in playful and mischievous behavior. This is thought to be a way of expressing joy and celebrating the fact that the Jewish people were saved from destruction.

Similarly, clowns often use humor and physical comedy to subvert expectations and turn things upside down. They use their antics to make people laugh and to break down barriers between people. In this way, the clowning tradition can be seen as a way of celebrating the joy and absurdity of life, much like the celebration of Purim.

In conclusion, while there is no direct connection between Purim and clowns, there are some interesting parallels that can be drawn between the two. Jews have made significant contributions to the world of clowning, and the tradition of clowning can be seen as a way of celebrating the joy and absurdity of life, much like the celebration of Purim. Ultimately, both Purim and clowning can be seen as expressions of the human desire to find joy and meaning in the face of adversity and to celebrate the triumph of the human spirit.

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Award-Winning Cartoonist Dean Haspiel Launches Kickstarter Campaign for COVID COP, a New Romance Horror Comic

Posted on 03/01/2023 by Pop-Culture Spectrum

BROOKLYN, N.Y., March 1, 2023 – Today Emmy Award-winning cartoonist Dean Haspiel launched a Kickstarter campaign for COVID COP, his new romance horror comic book for mature readers.

The campaign kicks off March 1 at kickstarter.com/projects/deanhaspiel/covid-cop.

“A cross between Judge Dredd, Toxic Avenger, Mad Max, and Sin City, COVID COP is my response to a pandemic that never found its cure and has wiped out 98% of mankind,” Haspiel says. The story follows a 21st century antihero in Brooklyn who’s tasked to save what’s left of humanity – and rekindle romance with his ex-wife, Fate Majeure.

Haspiel came up with the idea for COVID COP In 2020, around the same time he conceived and co-curated the Ringo Award-nominated PANDEMIX, which was the first comic book anthology to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I showed COVID COP to several publishers, and it received the same reactions: ‘We love your idea, but we can’t publish it,’” Haspiel says. “They were scared of how people would respond. I took that as a good sign. A major clue that I’d made something that might truly resonate.’”

Haspiel is best known for creating The Red Hook and Billy Dogma, collaborating with Harvey Pekar and Jonathan Ames, and illustrating for HBO’s Bored to Death. His award-winning career includes writing and drawing for Marvel, DC/Vertigo, Archie, Image, and Webtoon.

Billed as a “Dean Haspiel Deep Cut,” COVID COP is also influenced by one of Haspiel’s favorite cartoonists, Jack Kirby.

“Jack Kirby wanted to connect with readers and melt minds. Go big or go home. For all of his cosmic concepts, he never forgot about the heart of a story. Having fought in World War 2, I believe Kirby’s comics were a product of battlefield PTSD. The things he saw. The things he had to do. Kirby was working out the best and the worst of humanity. He questioned the idea of God and then dared to answer it. And that’s what art does best.”

Along with print and digital editions of the comic, tiered rewards for the Kickstarter campaign include personalized and signed drawings of Covid Cop; a Zoom with Haspiel and surprise guests; a one-on-one comics consultation; and an original 9×12 drawing of any character the supporter chooses.

“This comic is bombastic yet heartfelt and wholly independent,” Haspiel says. “An expression of a certain time and space for you and me. Something to cringe yet laugh at.”

LIKE
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11 bit studios Sci-fi Double Feature – A Fresh Look at The Invincible and a New Tease for The Alters

Posted on 02/20/2023 by Pop-Culture Spectrum

The stunning landscapes of Regis III: As breathtaking as they are unwelcoming, they offer both beauty and despair in equal measure

Warsaw, Poland – February 20th, 2023 — 11 bit studios continues on its quest to provide meaningful entertainment as it looks forward to the release of two highly-anticipated science fiction games. Both titles—The Invincible, a story-driven adventure by Starward Industries, and The Alters, developed by an in-house team—aim to provide players with the thoughtful and in-depth gameplay and narrative that 11 bit studios have become affectionately known for, and today 11 bit studios present a new look at each of them.

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The Invincible is a first-person narrative game based on the iconic novel of the same name by world-renowned science-fiction author and Polish futurologist, Stanisław Lem. Human nature is to conquer and leap cognitive boundaries. We strive to reach the highest peaks, discover the deepest parts of the oceans, and reach for the furthest corners of the universe. This unshaken belief led Yasna, a sharp-witted astrobiologist, and her crew to a mission on Regis III. An expedition that will force them to realize that perhaps, not everything everywhere is for us.

The new video contains footage combining actual gameplay and in-game footage, as The Invincible is set to release later this year for PC and consoles. A new demo will be shown behind closed doors at this year’s GDC, between March 20th-24th.

Also, Starward Industries is debuting a brand-new website for The Invincible where fans can read all issues of the comic book related to the game so far, with more issues yet to come: https://invinciblethegame.com/Play button

The Alters firmly aligns with 11 bits studios’ development and design philosophy. A unique narrative, driven forward by the interactions of altered versions of the same genetic human, Jan is an everyman trapped during a space mission gone awry trying to find a way home and repair his shattered life in the process. It’s up to the player to understand the weaknesses and strengths of Jan’s tweaked identities—his alters—and resourcefully balance the dynamics between them.

Each alter’s life branches at various stages and ages, making them different people despite their identical DNA. They are, by every measure, individuals driven by their own motivations and torn by their own emotions. They’ve made different decisions, maybe one made mistakes that another did not, and by looking at who each alter ultimately becomes, perhaps players will question who they could have become if they’d done things differently themselves.

Posted in Video Games | Comments Off on 11 bit studios Sci-fi Double Feature – A Fresh Look at The Invincible and a New Tease for The Alters

Valentine’s Day 2023

Posted on 02/14/2023 by Pop-Culture Spectrum

Posted in Art & Streetart | Comments Off on Valentine’s Day 2023

The Society of Illustrators is proud to release the visuals for the 2023 MoCCA Arts Festival!

Posted on 02/07/2023 by Pop-Culture Spectrum

The Society is thrilled to welcome the community back to the MoCCA Arts Festival! Please join us in celebrating a selection of top comic, cartoon, illustration, and animation artists from around the world! Featuring work by over 500 creators, the weekend will also include live lectures, panels, and artist signings! In one of the first independent comics festivals of the season, this year’s Fest will include masters of the industry as well as newcomers and fan favorites!

The Fest will take place April 1 – 2, 2023 from 11:00AM – 7:00PM on Saturday and 11:00AM – 6:00PM on Sunday. Held in the modern and spacious Metropolitan Pavilion, visitors will enjoy the venue’s large floor plan and high ceilings, allowing for a bright and well-ventilated space. Located at 125 W 18th Street, Met Pavilion is nestled in the heart of the Chelsea neighborhood, and is within walking distance to many great restaurants and attractions. Programming will be a few steps away at the SVA Flatiron Gallery, located at 133 West 21st Street.

To help announce and promote this year’s Fest, the Society asked award-winning Artist Toma Vagner to create the main visual. Vagner’s art will grace the cover of the Souvenir Journal and will feature prominently on all advertising and promotional materials, as well as a selection of merchandise available to purchase at the SI Booth.

In addition to Toma’s art, the Society has also asked several notable artists to create work for the show. Flora Bai’s whimsical creatures will be displayed on the badges and promotional items, and Kruttika Susarla will be featured as spot illustrations found throughout the Fest. These featured artists will be attending the Fest, and their schedules and table locations will be released as the date approaches.

The Society will continue to release additional information about the Fest in the near future. Tickets are available to purchase online as well as at the door.  The Society is following all state and city safety protocols. Protocols are subject to change, so be sure to check back for the latest information. As of now, face coverings are optional at Metropolitan Pavilion and the Exhibitor Hall. Proof of vaccines, boosters and masks are required to enter SVA buildings and programming.

To learn more about the Fest, please visit the website.

 

Posted in Comics, Conventions, Events & Expos, MoCCaFest | Comments Off on The Society of Illustrators is proud to release the visuals for the 2023 MoCCA Arts Festival!