Posted at 3:30 a.m. - Wednesday, January 7

Here's a little sumtin'-sumtin that came to me via 'Geek Mail':

'Who loves Chicago? The Fuglees love Chicago and the Fuglees love to rock! Polygroin Records recording artist “The Fuglees” will be performing in Chicago this Saturday (January 10th) at Martyr’s. You may already know this entertaining power-pop trio for their hit songs “Crazy Girls” and “David Lee Roth”. Their high energy midwestern sound is reminiscent of Cheap Trick with the humor of Ben Folds. You can take a listen at thefuglees.com.'

'Comic book nerds may know the band’s bass player, comic book artist Andy Kuhn. For the past 15 years he has drawn comics for just about everyone including Marvel and DC. Andy’s current comic book “Firebreather” (published by Image Comics) is being produced as an animated feature for The Cartoon Network. The band’s third CD is due out this summer. If you’re wondering how Andy finds the time to do both, you can come out to Martyr’s this Saturday and ask him in person.'

Sounds like a good time to me!  Tickets are available online through MusicToday.Com.

And as always, if you've got an event that Geek & Nerd Nation should hear about, just drop me a line!

Posted at 1:30 p.m. - Wednesday, January 7

The 'internets' are just chock full of free content from aspiring writers and artists trying to get themselves noticed.  Most are talented folk who have yet to catch that 'big break' to make it into publishing.  And others are established professionals who just have a project that they're passionate about and want to share it in any way they can.

This is one of those 'others.'

Dan Jolley is an established professional writer who has worked for just about every major comic book company and is currently making a name for himself in the YA market.  He's written Batman, Superman, characters from the X-Men universe and numerous others, but today he brings us something...different.

REDEEMER'S LAW is, as Dan puts it, 'a contemporary pulp action sci-fi horror superhero story.'  That's a mouthfull indeed!  And better yet, you get to read Mr. Jolley's entire novel, chapter by chapter, for free and even get to comment on how the narrative is progressing!

That's an opportunity that doesn't present itself every day, y'know.

So I encourage all you superhero/sc-fi/horror/pulp fiction fans to check out Redeemer's Law...

And tell Mr. Jolley that you heard about it on the Geek To Me Blog!

CHECK IT OUT!

Posted at 10:15 a.m. - Monday, December 29

Christmas has passed and I'm still alive, despite catching one wicked flu bug that had me bed-ridden and fuzzy headed for most of the holiday.  I'm on the comeback trail right now, and while not a hundred percent just yet, I'm up and about and on the lookout for New Year's happenings and whatnot.

In the meantime, I'd encourage you to check out my guest appearance on the Around Comics podcast with Chris Neseman and Tom Stillwell of Spinner Rack Comics.

We have a nice discussion about comics and what it's like to write for a licensed property like Xena: Warrior Princess and Army of Darkness.

Please check it out and feel free to comment below!

Posted at 12:05 p.m. - Saturday, November 22

Now here's a fun film that just goes to show the kind of talent we have here in the Windy City!  The League is a 'thesis film' for Chapman University by filmmakers Kyle Higgins and Alec Siegel that features everything you would expect in a big-budget production: solid production design, great costumes and top-notch special effects.

Also involved in the production was professional comic-book artist Eric Wight, who is known for his work on The Escapist for Dark Horse Comics and Justice League of America for DC.

The film plays with all the archetypes of the comics genre, from The Dark Avenger to the sidekick to the cosmic hero and puts them in a perilous world of dark dealings and back-alleys where nothing is quite as it appears to be.

You can watch this gem of film for FREE on The League web site!

CHECK IT OUT!

Posted at 7:15 p.m. - Tuesday, November 11

Earlier today I posted a REDEYE EXCLUSIVE COMIC STRIP (Hey Newsarama!  You guys know what 'exclusive' means, right?) featuring the Savage Dragon congratulating President-Elect Barack Obama.  The strip was created by Erik Larsen on what was a killer deadline (thanks Erik!) and will be included in Savage Dragon #145.  So now I present to you, the COVER to that issue, due out in February 2009!

Posted at 9:55 a.m. - Tuesday, November 11

Here is a RedEye Geek to Me EXCLUSIVE!  To commemorate the Savage Dragon's return to the Chicago Police Department, Image Comics has provided us with a never-before-seen Savage Dragon strip produced exclusively for the RedEye!  Read my article on the Dragon's goin' blue in today's Redeye Geek To Me!

Click on image to view FULL SIZE! [Savage Dragon strip courtesy of Erik Larsen/Image Comics]

Posted at 2:20 p.m. - Friday, October 31

My coverage of the Windy City Comic Con concludes with this interview with Len Kody and Jenny Frison, the creative team behind Image/Shadowline Comics' Chicago 1968.

(Geek To Me readers may remember that Chicago 1968 received the Kryptonite Medal in the Geek Factor Olympics, and Len Kody says he couldn't have been happier!)

Thanks to the great folks of the WCCC!  It was a great event and I can't wait to see what they have in store for next year!

Posted at 11:40 a.m. - Thursday, October 30

My coverage of last weekend's Windy City Comic Con continues with my interview with local indie comic book creator Jeff Zwirek!:

(FYI, Jeff will be appearing at Dreamland Comics on November 8th from 1pm - 3pm with Art Balatzar and yours truly for a comic book signing.)

Keep checking back because there's a lot more to come from the WCCC!

Posted at 8:20 a.m. - Thursday, October 30

The Windy City Comic Con gave me a few opportunities to meet and talk with some of Chicago's best and brightest creators.  Over the next couple days, I'll be sharing my interviews with a few creators, a comic shop owner and one of the WCCC's organizers.

Here's one to start us off:

I sit down with local comic book artist/writer Tim Seeley who talks to me about his hit comic Hack/Slash!

Posted at 8:25 a.m. - Monday, October 27

[Image courtesy of Jeff Balke]

Local artist Jeff Balke sends an invite to all Geek To Me readers to his upcoming comic book signing to promote his latest work 'Velvet Rope' from Arcana Comics.  The following message reached me via geek-mail:

“Admit one to a new collection of horrifying tales! Grab your popcorn and candy, as Velvet, the beautiful usher from beyond the grave introduces Arcana's brand of spine tingling horror in this annual anthology which includes deadly glimpses of upcoming Arcana titles Baker's Dozen, Club Vampire, and Daddy's Little Girl as well as an all-new Eve: Vampire Diva short.”

Stop by Graham Cracker Comics on Wednesday October 29th in Lincoln Park (Chicago) between 5-8pm and meet colorist Jeff Balke who has also worked on books such as Koni Waves: War of the Independents, Talon, Arena, the Sire and many more. Along with signing his new book “VELVET ROPE” there will also be…

FREE limited edition prints for the first 20 people (not artwork shown)

• FREE Sketch Colorings

• Limited edition prints of a NEW character and creative team

Be sure to visit Jeff, check out his new book, and tell him that you read about it on Geek To Me!