Bringing Dark Beauty to Bad Dreams by Rodrigo Aviles …..

The scenes in Rodrigo Aviles’ paintings and  illustrations are often unnerving. Ghostly swordswomen float over the sleeping  world. Courtly figures are transformed into psychedelic mushrooms. Abstract  animals and people with demonic faces stand their two-dimensional ground. Killer  robots rampage through the streets. Even his most surreal pieces, however, carry  a strong narrative quality, and all those visual stories carry a dark  appeal.
In addition to handling art duties on Sebastian  Castro’s Adventure Calling, Aviles has provided colors for Mark Andrew  Smith and Armand Villavert’s Gladstone’s School for World Conquerors,  Smith and Matthew Weldon’s The New Brighton Archeological Society, and  Smith and James Stokoe’s upcoming Sullivan Sluggers.

Aviles’  own work has a nightmarish quality to it, with dream logic scenes that are  neither simple nor overstuffed. And while his fanart is largely straightforward,  it comes with a few surprises. His super-cropped rendering of Gandalf, showing  just the wizard’s staff, sword and the tip of his hat, is one of my favorite  pieces of Tolkien fanart, relying on negative space to create a sense of  drama.

You can see more of Aviles’ artwork on his Flickr  photostream and his Tumblr.




Tags:   art  – fanartillustration  – paintingrodrigo  avilesRodrigoAviles

Read More:  http://www.comicsalliance.com/2012/05/27/rodrigo-aviles-art/#ixzz1w5gBSJos

 

Claire Hummel Re-Does Superheroes And Disney Pricesses ….

“Historical accuracy” and “Disney princesses”  aren’t usually two concepts that go together. But that hasn’t stopped concept  artist Claire Hummel from injected a little fact into those fictional  characters, at least where their clothes are concerned. Hummel combines her  costumer’s eye and affection for animation in her other fanart projects as well,  redesigning outfits for some familiar heroes and rendering others with cartoony,  and gorgeously colored, flair.
Hummel, a graduate of the Rhode Island School of  Design, works as a concept artist for Microsoft Game Studios, where she’s worked  on games from Asheron’s Call to Kinectimals. In her personal  art, she tends to lean toward nostalgia, hence her quest to redesign the outfits  of Sailor Moon and the Disney princesses. While the Disney movies aren’t pegged  to a particular time period (with the notable exception of Pocahontas),  Hummel found historical dresses that are similar to the princesses’ iconic looks  and recostumed them accordingly.It’s worth visiting Hummel’s deviantART gallery, where she goes by “Shoomlah,”  to read her explanations for selecting fashions from specific regions and  periods, as well as where she cheated. (For example, Belle’s over-the-elbows  gloves don’t match her late 18th-century French courtly dress, and Pocahontas  wouldn’t have worn a turquoise necklace.) She puts similar thoughtfulness into  her proposed redesigns for Spider-Man, Harley Quinn and Clone Wars  Padawan Ahsoka Tano. Her other fanart is stellar, especially her Seaking with  its tattooed Pokemon trainer, a piece that has justifiably been making the  rounds of the art blogs.

Tags:   art  – claire hummelClaireHummeldisneyillustration  – princessesshoomlah

Read More:  http://www.comicsalliance.com/2012/05/26/claire-hummel-art/#ixzz1vz1FyyR0

 

‘Iron Man 3′ Gets Ashley Hamilton, William Sadler and (Kinda) Jon Favreau !

For those concerned about the fate of Iron Man 3 without original  director and spiritual guide Jon Favreau, here’s something  that’ll make you rest a little easier: He will be involved with next year’s  movie… as an actor, at least. And he’s not the only one.

The  Hollywood Reporter has news that Favreau will return as “Happy” Hogan in  Iron Man 3, reportedly closing a deal to star in the third installment after  making cameo appearances in the first two movies. He’ll be joined by Ashley  Hamilton, who according to Variety will play 1980s-era armored villain Firepower,  with Latino  Review reporting that Die Hard 2 veteran William Sadler will also  be appearing in the movie in some unknown role.

Already announced for the  movie – Marvel’s first post-Avengers project – are Ben Kingsley, Guy  Pearce, James Badge Dale and Rebecca Hall, alongside returning stars Robert  Downey Jr. and Gwyneth Paltrow. Shooting started on the project this week, with  Shane Black replacing Favreau as director and a script written by No  Heroics creator Drew Pearce and Black.

Iron Man 3 will be  released May 3, 2012.

Tags:   Ashley  HamiltonAshleyHamiltonCasting NewsCastingNewsIron  ManIron Man 3  – IronManIronMan3  – Jon FavreauJonFavreauWilliam  SadlerWilliamSadler

Read More:  http://www.comicsalliance.com/2012/05/25/iron-man-3-ashley-hamilton-william-sadler-jon-favreau/#ixzz1vygofDnD

 

FAN-tastic ArtWork Including Black Bat, Death, Hawkman, Marvel Ladies and MORE!!!

We make a regular practice at ComicsAlliance of spotlighting particular artists or specific bodies of work, but because cartoonists, illustrators and their fans share countless numbers of great images on sites like like Flickr, Tumblr, DeviantArt and seemingly infinite art blogs that we’ve created Best Art Ever (This Week), a weekly depository for just some of the pieces of especially compelling artwork that we come across in our regular travels across the Web. Some of it’s new, some of it’s old, some of it’s created by working professionals, some of it’s created by future stars, some of it’s created by talented fans, and some of it’s endearingly silly. All of it’s awesome.

WANT TO CONTRIBUTE?

We’re very much interested to see what you’ve dug up and think should be featured here in Best Art Ever (This Week). Please submit any great art links to andykhouri-at-comicsalliance.com. Artists, feel free to send in your own work or to request that your work be removed.

Self portrait by Gene Colan from the collection of Craig Rogers

FLCL by Ulysses

Death by Julian Totino Tedesco

Black Bat by 89g

“Monster Island Rumpus” by Harrison Grey

Galactic Adventures by Francesco Francavilla

Wolverine by Moebius

Hellboy by Max Fiumara

Galactus and the Silver Surfer by Giorgio Comolo

Jersey Shore/Batman mashup by Bill Walko for The Line It Is Drawn

David Bowie by Shehzil Malik

Doctor Doom by Gabriel Hardman

Tron: Evolution by James Paick

John Constantine and Zatanna by Frank Quitely

Adventure Time’s Marceline and the Scream Queens by Erica Henderson

Street Fighter by Bastien Bives

Game of Thrones/Disney Dragons mashup by Mona Calentine

Calvin and Hobbes bento box by Anna The Red (our first food art?)

“Fantastic Swords” mashup by Rocky Davies

Wolverine by Bill Sienkiewicz

The Avengers by Francesco Francavilla

Art by Daniel Irizarri Oquendo

“The Bat” sculpture by Marcus Ober

X-23 by Amilcar Pinna

Captain Marvel by Jamie McKelvie

“In A Flash” by Mike Iverson

Drive by Jim Rugg

The Avengers by Adi Granov

Batman by Mark Chiarello

Black Cat, Scarlet Witch, Enchantress and Medusa by Sara Pichelli

The Adventures of Cholly and Flytrap by Arthur Suydam

Catwoman by James P. Brouwer

Death by Marc Hempel

Richochet Rita, Longshot and Quark 6 by Arthur Adams

The Rocketeer and Betty by Dave Johnson for Comic Twart

Spider-Man by karioks

Art by Jack Kirby

Spider-Man by Todd McFarlane

ABC Warriors by Simon Bisley

“Heroine” by Ming Doyle

Hawkman by Nick Choles

The image above was painted by Nick Choles for an old DC Comics trading card set from the 1990s. I saw it when I was a kid. In that unexplainable way that an illustration can stay with you, this one always stayed with me and became part of that matrix of influences and tastes that form our aesthetic values and how we appreciate art. Mine was absolutely informed by this image. Years later, Nick Choles emailed me to say he’s a fan of Best Art Ever. That was awesome.
 

Tags:   best art everBestArtEver

Read More: http://www.comicsalliance.com/2012/05/25/best-art-ever-this-week-05-24-12/#ixzz1vtgYsbxS

OK “Avengers” Move Over – Time For “The Dark Knight” to “Rise” !!!!!

Yes, yes, Avengers: You’ve had your day, being much-beloved and breaking box office records and everything. But this summer superhero movie showdown is only getting started, as Warner Bros. is patiently reminding everyone with two new television spots and a host of still images showcasing Christopher Nolan’s final Batman movie, The Dark Knight Rises.

Both spots premiered last night, giving American Idol audiences the chance they’d all been waiting for to see Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle flirt a little more before she steals his car (Like we’d expect anything less from Gotham’s favorite cat burglar). Not so much new footage in these spots, but just enough to remind us this’ll be the movie where Christian Bale’s Bruce Wayne and friends try their hand at witty banter in an awkward fashion.

In addition to the new mini-trailers, Warner Bros. has also released new banners and promotional images for the movie offering an idea of the scale of the carnage that awaits us when the movie opens July 20.



[Click Banners to Enlarge]

 

Tags:   BatmanChristian BaleChristianBaleChristopher NolanChristopherNolanGotham Central CastingGothamCentralCastingThe Dark KnightThe Dark Knight RisesTheDarkKnightTheDarkKnightRisesWarner BrosWarnerBros

Read More: http://www.comicsalliance.com/2012/05/24/the-dark-knight-rises-tv-ads-banners-photos/#ixzz1vp2xlPAf

Robocop IS Batman !!!

It’s the Robocop/Batman crossover that you never expected, as the original Officer Murphy, Peter Weller, takes on the cowl and cape as the voice of Bruce Wayne and his alter ego in the upcoming animated adaptation of Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns.

Weller’s Batman will join Modern Family‘s Ariel Winter (She plays Alex, middle child of the Dumphies) in the animated feature, with Winter taking on the role of Carrie Kelly, the new Robin. Rounding out the voice cast of the movie are actors David Shelby, Wade Williams and Michael McKean as Dr. Wolper, the psychiatrist responsible for the Joker’s release back into society.

Warners is going all out on the adaptation, with animation veterans Bob Goodman and Jay Oliva taking the writing and directing chores respectively of this two-part version of the classic story (The first installment will be released this year, with the second appearing early 2013). According to executive producer Bruce Timm, “Dark Knight Returns is the granddaddy of beloved comics properties that we’ve ever attempted. There is definitely the imperative to get it right.” Wondering how close they’ll get? Here are some pics to help you decide…

The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1 will be released on DVD and BluRay this fall.

[Via THR]

 

Tags:   Ariel WinterArielWinterBatmanDavid ShelbyDavidShelbyDC AnimatedDcAnimatedMichael McKeanMichaelMckeanPeter WellerPeterWellerRobocopThe Dark Knight ReturnsThe Dark Knight Returns movieTheDarkKnightReturnsTheDarkKnightReturnsMovieWade WilliamsWadeWilliams

Read More: http://www.comicsalliance.com/2012/05/23/the-dark-knight-returns-animated-movie-robocop-peter-weller/#ixzz1vnUuHDv1

Luv This – Captain Ameripug: The First Pugvenger

This past weekend my wife and I, along with our pooch Pearl the pug, attended the 12th annual Oregon Humane Society Pug Crawl in Portland. This year’s theme for the OHS fundraiser was “Pug Nation: A Better Pug for a Better America!” which came alive in a parade of costumed pugs and pug mixes wearing a variety of patriotic costumes. While the entire parade was a feast for my pug-loving senses, one marcher in particular caught my eye: A pug cosplaying as Captain America. Take a peek at full-size photos of a friendly pooch we’ll call Captain Ameripug after the jump.

 

Tags:   Captain AmericaCaptainAmericacosplayOregon Humane SocietyOregonHumaneSocietypugPug CrawlPugCrawlpugs

Read More: http://www.comicsalliance.com/2012/05/23/captain-america-pug-photos/#ixzz1viARMH6c

FAN-tastic Cosplay Including Power Rangers, Black Widow, Power Girl and More !!!

Filed under:

Although cosplay has been present for decades within the comics, anime, and  sci-fi/fantasy fandoms, social media has played an integral role in the thriving  community of costuming that exists today and cosplay communities such as Cosplay.com and the Superhero Costuming Forum. In honor of the many fans who’ve  displayed excellence in the mastery of homemade disguise, craftsmanship, and  sartorial superheroics, ComicsAlliance has created Best Cosplay Ever  (This Week), a weekly collection of some of the most impeccable,  creative, and clever costumes that we’ve discovered and assembled into our own  super-showcase of pure fan-devoted talent.

Loki, cosplayed by nomokis
Mia  Fey & Godot, cosplayed by RaenD & One2Hit, photographed by  Cosplay Ninjas

Iron  Man, cosplayed by DonRobert

Konohana  Sakuya, cosplayed by Cami86,  photographed by fabiohazard

Rogue & Psylocke, cosplayed by Meagan & gillykins,  photographed by Geekxgirls

Green  Ranger, cosplayed by dartfeld, photographed by NicolaiAndrews

Black  Widow, cosplayed by Alexia Jean Grey, photographed  by Adam Jay

Zelda,  cosplayed by RikkuGrape,  photographed by Kindra  Nikole

Power  Girl, photographed by Grant  Brummett

Lottie, cosplayed by Lil-Kute-Dream,  photographed by Kenji Ono

Chun-li,  cosplayed by Jessica Villarreal, photographed by cherieroberts

Rule  63 Captain America, photographed by dwrd  Studios

Groose,  cosplayed by misakochan

The  Riddler, photographed by findenenmacil

 

Editor’s note: For 50  weeks our modest Best Cosplay curator has resisted our wishes to include her own  excellent work in this feature. I think you’ll agree that excluding the  following image was just not an option, so I snuck it in. Let’s see if she  notices. – Khouri

Black Bat & The Spoiler,  cosplayed by Betty  Felon & Ali Kay,  photographed by Nate  Buchman

Do you have a stellar costume that you would  like to share with ComicsAlliance? Submit your photos HERE!

Tags:   Best  Cosplay EverBestCosplayEvercosplay

Read More:  http://www.comicsalliance.com/2012/05/21/best-cosplay-ever-this-week-05-21-12/#ixzz1vWlzh1oT

 

First Image and Video for “Arrow” From the CW …..

Filed under: ,

Now that the CW has announced their full fall schedule, we’re learning more about Arrow, the new series that may do for Green Arrow what Smallville did for Superman – although, it has to be hoped, a little better and without so much pouting. Fancy a new image and a clip from the pilot showing our hero in action? Aim your arrows at the “More” button.

As the officially-released teaser demonstrates, this incarnation of Green Arrow — Sorry, “Arrow” — looks set to be a little more serious than the one that appeared on Smallville, and a little bit more intense about punishing tennis balls that dare to try to bounce away from him:

No wonder he works out in an unused warehouse; you can’t just shoot arrows into the walls of your local 24 Hour Fitness without getting into expensive trouble. I mean, so I’ve heard.

The show will air on Wednesday evenings at 8 p.m. this fall, paired with the long-running Supernatural; we have between now and then to work out just why superhero archers are suddenly becoming so popular in the mainstream. It’s because shooting arrows is cheaper than CGI Hulks, isn’t it? I can understand that.

 

Tags:   ArrowGreen ArrowGreenArrowSmallvilleThe CWTheCw

Read More: http://www.comicsalliance.com/2012/05/17/green-arrow-tv-show-cw-image-teaser-video/#ixzz1vDnbQG9l

CARE BEARS STARE!!! ‘Care Bears’ Getting a CG Animated Revival on The Hub This Summer …..

The world may just have gotten its head around the existence of Bronies, but following the successful revival of My Little Pony, the next ironic-gender-appropriation-of-a-nostalgic-toy-brand is already being dreamt up by Hasbro and its television subsidiary, the Hub. Care Bears fans, are you ready for… “Belly-Bros?”

Next month sees the debut of Care Bears: Welcome to Care-a-Lot, a show described in PR sent to Cartoon Brew as “a modernized, CGI-animated version of the classic animated cartoon” that sees “everyone’s favorite bears and their iconic Belly Badges… transformed with today’s technology into a series that kids and families can enjoy together.”

The same PR also describes the show as featuring “the same re-imagined CG animation and spirit of friendship and caring that made shows like “My Little Pony Friendship is Magic a cult hit,” apparently being unable to tell the difference between something that looks like this -

- and something that looks like this:

Yes, the two may both be created using computers, but that’s hardly “the same re-imagined CG animation” in both shows (If you’re wondering what’s happening in the Care Bears image, by the way, Grumpy Bear is unhappy because Tenderheart Bear would rather show off his mad rhyming “skillz” than eat the cereal that Grumpy had made for him).

In case you’re wondering, “Belly-Bros” is a term offered by the Hub as a potential name for the legions of male fans who’ll enjoy this new Care Bears series as much as they do Friendship is Magic. If you’re not feeling it, however, they’re also suggesting “Care-Dudes,” which sounds more like the way that William S. Preston would describe someone who works in an assisted living facility.

Care Bears: Welcome to Care-a-Lot premieres June 2 at 8 a.m. on the Hub. We can only hope that it’ll feature a Care Bear Stare showdown every week.

[Via Cartoon Brew]

 

Tags:   Care BearsCareBearsHasbroMy Little PonyMyLittlePonyThe HubTheHub

Read More: http://www.comicsalliance.com/2012/05/16/care-bears-cg-animated-tv-series-video-belly-bros-care-dudes/#ixzz1v4LmyUOs