Broken Saints Blog-a-Plenty

(From a feature on the future of Webcomics in the UK’s latest Sunday Times)

RICH-MEDIA EPIC
www.brokensaints.com
Five stars

The MTV generation is served by a new breed of interactive online comics that draws from pop culture and urban life, along with traditional cartoon strips. At another extreme sits Broken Saints, the Sundance-award-winning graphic novel that transforms static online serial art into a stunningly animated film. Here, lavishly detailed Flash animation and a haunting soundtrack tell an epic story. A hacker, an Islamic fundamentalist, a Shinto priest and a mysterious girl are drawn together by an apocalyptic vision to uncover a worldwide corporate conspiracy. The series ran from 2001 to 2003, but you can see the 24 episodes by following the link on the home page to the original site. Fan forums, art galleries and games accompany daily haikus and discussion in the blog. Best of all, you can download episodes to watch on an iPod Video, and podcast commentaries are promised soon. A glimpse at the future of web-comic production.

Scope the rest of the article here.

Thought it’d be cool to revisit this with the spanky new tech. Many thanks to Tony Holcomb for the effort and inspiration – in fact, I’m starting to think that another fan contest revolving around Comic-Con might be just the thing to stir up some passion around these parts. Thoughts?

Pa Kent…or Bo Duke?

More than this – classy and kind

and a chick MAGNET!!!

(from a Harry Knowles interview with director James Cameron)

“With that we began talking about 3D. The camera he is going to be shooting with is called THE FUSION CAMERA, which is scheduled to shoot a U2 Concert in the next couple of days. I love that he knows where his camera is going. Anyway. Jim’s planning on shooting 3D not so much as the stab you in the eye, throw a flaming spear at you type of thing, but as, what he calls, “A More Lucid Window,” through which to observe the worlds that he’s going to unleash upon us.

When I began talking about the questionable Home Entertainment application in terms of immediate revenue return, like the 2D market today… especially with this film being seen widely in the superior stereoscopic format. Cameron said that all the at-home viewing technology is developed and is sitting waiting for content. Before the technology giants like SONY come out with the perfect 3D at home screening units – they need to have at least 30-40 major popular titles to package to offer in an initial offering to the public. That’s where the retro-fitting of 2D films to Stereo Optics is coming in. 3D STAR WARS, INDIANA JONES, etc. I asked him which of his films would get that treatment and at this time he’s really concentrating on T2 and TITANIC.”

Ahem.

When’s E3 again..?

😉

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(oh…and whilst my tangental thrust is of the interactive variety, scope THIS out. Finally…a chance at sweet, SWEET redemption after the sea of scrotum sweat and phallic feta-froth poor Supes endured last time.)

YES…JESUS IS A SAINT!

‘Career Saint’ Jesus Lopez spun by the booth in Orlando and dropped many a praise bomb on BS, to the point where I was essentially carpeted with kindness. In fact, he was probably the first in a surprisingly long line of hardcores that made the pilgrimage and shared some love throughout the three-day geekgasm.

I thought the facial pigmentation was from the Florida sun, but I’ve read that it’s kinda hard to burn indoors. Shit, you know what..?

I’m still blushing.

Embracing a LEGEND!!!

Anna Young invited me to Megacon.

Anna Young gave birth to Fas Ferox.

Anna Young has infinite patience.

Anna Young is chummy with everyone from Neil Gaiman to Warren Ellis to the grinning bloke pictured here…

GEORGE-fucking-PEREZ.

And she thinks she owes ME for the Florida experience?!?!?

Can’t thank you enough, A – you, OR your wacky ‘n’ loveable minions 😀

Don’t ever change…except when you have to.

Seriously, man…they’re the salts of the Earth. Like ‘carnies’ – without the chicanery and questionable breeding 😉

Take this couple, f’r instance. I first met them at the huge SD Con‘ last summer, and they were kinda hard to miss: a late 30’s duo with rock-hard physiques and daily costume changes, mugging for the cameras and attracting scads of awed onlookers. The Black Cat and Spidey combo picture here is probably the tamest example of their duds – I’ve been in the presence of their Storm/Havoc, Hawkman/Hawkgirl, and Captain Atom/Huntress attire!

The lady’s a freakin’ biochemist by day – the fella’s a professional costume and props guy – and they tour the con’ circuit for the LOVE of it. Hell, they were practically guests of honor at a wedding proposal on the Megacon floor yesterday (along with two Supermen, a Golden Age Batman, the Lone Ranger, Silver Age Green Lantern, and Carter-era Wonder Woman!!!).

Am I weird for thinking I’ve finally found ‘my people’???

…will be posted in just over 24 hours. Lots of news from the sunshine state (or is that Cali? I always get confused when I come to this strange, strange land). From mini fan-mobs to new recruits to surprise celeb purchases, I have nothing but warm reviews of my time amidst the oranges…and goths…and geeks…oh my 😉

The snap to the right is a small part of the evolving promo presence for Headwater, a talented group of musicians you might remember from the BS Benefit Concerts moons ago.

I had a chance to sample Matt and Jonas’ new stuff a few weeks back, and recommended they get rolling with some myspaceness so more could enjoy. Very raw currently – these are low-fi kitchen recordings, folks – but the folksie fun and shimmering string work tease of future goodness.

Be sure to sample My Old Friend…if all goes well, you’ll be hearing snippets of it – and more local gems from the Saints of yesterday –
as part of that whole Next Thing I keep yammering about 😉

Off to Megacon tomorrow. Back next Monday with comely cosplay pics and Disney-free Orlando anecdotes…

Word

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