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Buffy’s Karl Moline Talks Willow Magic

Man, it’s been a busy week! Good thing I like this job so much. It does have its perks, after all—like getting to talk with Karl Moline, guest artist on the Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8: Willow one-shot out today. In the interview, Karl discusses the comic and the There’s Something about Willow issue.

A very special one-shot ships today from Dark Horse—and it’s just in time for the holidays. Avid Buffy the Vampire Slayer fans might not be able to have their favorite witch gift-wrapped under the tree this year, but they can snatch a generous dose of Willow action in today’s comic. Guest artist Karl Moline agreed to sit down and answer some of our pressing questions. Who is that serpent lady on the cover and what does she want with Willow? What’s it like working with Joss Whedon? And most importantly, who’d win in a pillow fight: Spike or Angel? Okay, I made that one up, but Moline does give us the behind-the-scenes skinny on the Willow extravaganza.

GEN: Thanks so much for taking the time out of your day to talk shop with us, Karl! Let’s get down to business: the upcoming Willow one-shot. Regular Buffy artist Georges Jeanty is stepping aside for this issue. As co-creator and artist on the Fray-themed comics, what made you turn your focus from the future Vampire Slayer to the series’ number one redhead? How did you become involved with the one-shot?

Karl Moline: Well, while Fray has been my major focus with Dark Horse, I’ve developed a good working relationship with my editors and that has led to a few non-Fray related projects. I had a really good time drawing the Buffy characters, and Willow was probably my favorite of the bunch. I guess the Powers that Be felt I did a good a good job drawing her and thought of me for the one-shot.

GEN: That serpent lady on the cover—Willow has met her before, right? She seems to know a lot about Willow and her powers. How much of a role does she play in this issue?

Moline: We have seen her before, although her appearance was brief and somewhat mysterious. This issue will shed light on her ties to Willow and explain who she is and why we should care. Their history is important to Willow’s magic powers and fans will want to read this to get a clearer picture.

Read more at the Girls Entertainment Network. And while you’re at it, make sure to check out TheNerdyBird’s chat with Georges Jeanty.

Tags: Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8: Willow, Dark Horse, Girls Entertainment Network, Interviews, Karl Moline, One-shots, Week of 12/21/09
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Off to Never Neverland with Joe Brusha

Zenescope Entertainment regularly turns classic fairy tales and fiction into the stuff of nightmares. Alice in Wonderland and Grimm Fairy Tales have both fallen under its shadow, and now Peter Pan is up on deck. Joe Brusha, president of Zenescope and creator/writer of the upcoming Neverland books, sat down to answer my questions about the comic.

You can read the full interview over at the Girls Entertainment Network, but here’s a preview to get you started:

Joe Brusha is a busy man in comics these days. When his hands aren’t full of comics from managing Zenescope Entertainment as president, his pen and ideas are hitting paper. His latest contribution? Brusha has been putting his creative mind to work with the all-new, upcoming Neverland twist. The writer/company president agreed to take the time from his daily routine to give GEN the scoop on Peter and his boyhood pals … and foes.

Girls Entertainment Network: With notable stories like Wonderland and Grimm Fairy Tales in the Zenescope collection, it was perhaps only a matter of time before Peter Pan was given his turn in the spotlight. Why now, and has Zenescope ever done a Peter Pan comic before?

Joe Brusha: Neverland was actually one of the first stories I thought about doing for the Grimm universe, so it’s kind of been sitting around for the past few years. Pan has appeared briefly and been hinted at in a couple of Grimm issues, but this is really the first time he’ll been in a book.

Tags: Girls Entertainment Network, Interviews, Joe Brusha, Neverland, Week of 11/2/09, Zenescope Entertainment
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Review: Fables Deluxe Vol. 1

Fables has been on my must-read list for awhile, so I was pretty happy to find a shiny review copy of the new Deluxe Edition Vol. 1 waiting for me in the mail. It retails for about $30, which isn’t too shabby for a deluxe book. Here’s a preview of my review:

Bill Willingham’s popular series Fables continues to reshape our cherished fairy tales into a modern, edgy new form, and now Vertigo has recast the magic that first captured the comic’s audience with a deluxe printing. The book splits into “Legends in Exile” and “Animal Farm” and also features a collection of color artwork and sketches titled “Treasures from the Woodland Vaults”; otherwise, there’s not much new to be discovered if you’re already familiar with the series.

“Legends in Exile,” the first arc, introduces the eccentric and memorable characters of Fablestown (pencilled by Lan Medina). From the classic and alleged beanstalk-climber Jack to the murderer turned detective Bigby Wolf, and the disciplined and stern Snow White in charge to her promiscuous and dishonest ex Prince Charming, Willingham’s focus on reinventing the characters of old cements his comic as a success. Many great and long-remembered comics began with a murder mystery, and Fables follows the same path when Snow White’s sister, Rose Red, becomes the center of bloody attention. In between dealing with the Beauty and Beast’s marital rough patches and keeping her manipulative ex-husband at bay, Snow White joins the Fable once infamously known as the Big, Bad Wolf in solving the puzzle of Red’s whereabouts—dead or alive.

To read the full article and learn more about the highs and lows of the trade, check out my review over at the Girls Entertainment Network.

Tags: Bill Willingham, Fables Deluxe Edition Vol. 1, Girls Entertainment Network, Lan Medina, Vertigo, Week of 10/12/09
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Review: Robot13 #2

When Robot13 #1 came out, I was impressed by the highly original idea and strong art (despite its likeness to Mike Mignola’s trademark visuals). Recently I was given the chance to review the second issue, which comes out on October 16th. But does it live up to my high expectations, or flounder in those monster-infested waters of its own lore?

You’ll have to find out over at the Girls Entertainment Network. Let me know what you think!

Tags: Blacklist Studios, Daniel Bradford, Girls Entertainment Network, Robot13, Thomas Hall, Week of 10/5/09
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Review: High Moon Vol. 1

Step away from the sunlight, Twilight. Get away from that movie poster, zombie. How about some good ol’ monsters and werewolves instead?

David Gallaher and Steve Ellis’ comic, High Moon, is now available in print—the first volume, anyway. It’s absolutely fantastic and worth every penny you have hiding in your couch, so add it to your list. And if you’re really cheap and have too much time on your hands, you can read it all from the beginning at the Zuda Comics website. But, you know, maybe you could afford to live a little? Don’t make me sic Macgregor on you!

You can read my review over at the Girls Entertainment Network.

Tags: David Gallaher, Girls Entertainment Network, High Moon Vol. 1, Steve Ellis, Week of 10/5/09, Zuda Comics
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Review: Labor Days Vol. 2

Even if you don’t typically enjoy black and white comics, you might get a kick out of Labor Days Vol. 2: Just Another Damn Day (Philip Gelatt, Rick Lacy) from Oni Press. It’s funny and has the charm of a good web comic strip, only … you know … it’s a graphic novel.

You can read the review over at the Girls Entertainment Network, and pick up the book starting tomorrow (Wednesday).

Tags: Girls Entertainment Network, Labor Days Vol. 2: Just Another Damn Day, Oni Press, Philip Gelatt, Rick Lacy, Week of 9/28/09
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