Laugh Tracks

Interview with Halo and Sprocket creator Kerry Callen

Kerry Callen, creator of the fun metaphysical comic series Halo and Sprocket, was interviewed by Newsarama about the upcoming release of Halo and Sprocket: Natural Creatures, a graphic novel-length collection of short stories to be released in July.

You can enjoy the first Halo and Sprocket mini-series everywhere you go by downloading the GoComics mobile comic book reader application for your phone. Visit m.gocomics.com on your mobile phone browser. Visit the GoComics Comic Book section for more info.

Screamland #1, On Sale Now!

Screamland, written by GoComics' own Harold Sipe with art by Hector Casanova, is on sale now! Look for it at your local comic book shop!

Screamland, from GoComics' Harold Sipe

Wednesday is the biggest day of the week for comic book fans, but March 12th is a bigger Wednesday than most for us here at GoComics.

A lifelong comic book fan, GoComics manager of product development Harold Sipe is the guy who sees to it that hit comic books like Bone, Elephantmen, GODLAND, TMNT and more make it to your mobile phone. Now Harold has taken his love for comics to the next level - he's written an excellent 5-issue comic book series called Screamland, the first issue of which lands in comic shops on March 12th from Image Comics.

The series follows the present-day lives of legendary film stars Frankenstein's Monster, the Mummy, the Werewolf and Dracula, all one-time A-listers who were discarded by Tinseltown with the rise of CG special effects. After decades of clinging to the last threads of their celebrity, the monsters have been offered a film project that may put them back on the Hollywood map.The pitch-perfect art for the series is provided by Kansas City-based artist Hector Casanova (The Lurkers, Midnight Album).

We'll have more info on Screamland in the next few days, leading up to its Wednesday release. In the meantime, check out these links:

• Newsarama interview with Sipe and Casanova.
• ComicMonsters.com interview with Sipe.
• ComicMonsters.com also has this very cool article in which Casanova discusses his mixed media approach to character design on Screamland, with lots of images.
• Get Screamland wallpapers for your mobile phone here.
• Screamland profile on MySpace.

HURRY! Amazon's Deal of the Day is THE COMPLETE CALVIN AND HOBBES!!!

TODAY ONLY!!! The Complete Calvin and Hobbes is Amazon's Gold Box Deal of the Day! Get one of the greatest comic strips of all time, collected in a beautiful, 1440-page, 3-volume hardcover set, at 55% off! Makes a perfect gift for any comic fan (or just treat yourself)! Click this link right now and take advantage of this one-day offer while supplies last!

Doonesbury's Sandbox Celebrates One Year of GWOT-Lit

In October 2006, Doonesbury creator Garry Trudeau launched a military blog (or "milblog") that soon became a vast online forum through which hundreds of service members in Afghanistan and Iraq began to share stories with readers here at home. The Sandbox celebrates its one-year anniversary this month with the release of The Sandbox: Dispatches From Troops in Iraq and Afghanistan (Andrews McMeel Publishing, $16.95). Many of the Sandbox's most eloquent and compelling posts have been compiled to form this brilliant and emotionally charged book. This collection of stories is nonpartisan, devoid of politicking and propaganda, allowing readers a true-to-life glimpse at the effects of war on those deployed as well as those anxiously awaiting their return, with posts from both perspectives. Click here for more information and to see photos from the book.

The art of cartooning

Have you ever wanted to try your hand at being a cartoonists? Have you ever thought, "Hmmm, I wonder how you draw a cartoon?" Do you like to read authoritative how-to books from from industry insiders? If so, then have we got a book for you!

Making Comics, by Scott McCloud is right up your alley.

Depending on who you ask, Scott McCloud is either a comic guru or just another dude with an opinion (he blogs here). Personally, I like what Scott writes and find his books entertaining and informative. I may not agree with all of his theories on the art of cartooning, but at least he takes the time to elevate the conversation on cartooning.

Scott was recently interviewed by The Webcomics Examiner and it's and interesting read. Check it out if you have the time.

Derek