KAREN GILLAN for z'Ombéal: Walking Dead Skin Care - The Nerdist on April...

Too cool not to share. She's having almost too much fun.

Dan Con Welcomes. . . Kevin Harrell (Spring)

Dan Con

Kevin Harrell is a humble pupil, teetering on the prefaces of stardom. He is an accomplished illustration shogun with a hidden animation dagger that strikes down the competition with the most jaw dropping and beautiful precision.

And while the history tome of this man is still in its first few pages, his work and dedication shows the wisdom and power of a long time veteran novella. Kevin builds his nest in the north west burbs of Illinois, with his wife and two kids.

Experience his work at http://kevinharrell.deviantart.com/

Neal Adams, Rick Burchett Among Top Artists At Wizard World St. Louis Comic Con

ST. LOUIS – Neal Adams (“Batman,” “Green Lantern”, Rick Burchett (“Wonder Woman,” “The Flash”), Cullen Bunn (“Wolverine,” “Avenging Spider-Man”), Jorge Molina (“X-Men,” “Fear Itself”) and Chris Samnee (“Daredevil,” “Before Watchmen”) are among the leading comics creators scheduled to attend the inaugural Wizard World St. Louis Comic Con, March 22-24 at America's Center. The collection of more than 85 talented artists and writers will also feature such luminaries as Tyler Kirkham (“Superboy,” “Teen Titans”), Gary Friedrich (“Ghost Rider,” “Monster of Frankenstein”), Freddie Williams II (“Green Arrow,” “Captain Atom”), Arthur Suydam (“Marvel Zombies,” “Army of Darkness”) and Michael Golden (“Hulk,” “Star Wars”).

Two Eisner Award Hall of Famers in Adams and legend Stan Lee, two other Eisner winners (Burchett, Freidrich) and four nominees (Bunn, Samnee, Chris Grine (“Chickenhare”) and Matt Kindt (“JLA,” Agent of S.H.A.D.E.”) will be on hand.

The stellar roster complements a celebrity lineup with Laurie Holden, Billy Dee Williams, WWE® Superstar Randy Orton®, Henry Winkler, James Marsters and Dean Cain headlining. The event also features a variety of activities, exhibitors and special attractions in the second event on Wizard World's expanded 2013 calendar.

Additionally, all full price attendees will receive a free copy of the Exclusive Variant Cover of ‘The Walking Dead #1 comic, illustrated by Suydam, available only at Wizard World St. Louis Comic Con.

Wizard World Comic Con events bring together thousands of fans of all ages to celebrate the best in pop-fi, pop culture, movies, graphic novels, comics, toys, video gaming, television, sci-fi, gaming, original art, collectibles, contests and more. Wizard World St. Louis Comic Con show hours are Friday, March 22, 3-8 p.m.; Saturday, March 23, 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.; and Sunday, March 24, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

For more on the 2013 Wizard World St. Louis Comic Con, visit http://www.wizardworld.com/home-stlouis.html.

About Wizard World:
Wizard World produces Comic Cons and pop culture conventions across North America that celebrate graphic novels, comic books, movies, TV shows, gaming, technology, toys and social networking. The events often feature celebrities from movies and TV, artists and writers, and events such as premieres, gaming tournaments, panels, and costume contests.

The full event schedule can be found at www.wizardworld.com.

Gilbert Hernandez Talks About Marble Season at Quimby’s 4/18

Quimby's Bookstore

 

Join beloved cartoonist Gilbert Hernandez (LOVE & ROCKETS) as he launches his new D+Q graphic novel MARBLE SEASON, his first semiautobiographical story of his childhood. Hernandez will present a fascinating slide show “From Funnybooks to Graphic Novels” featuring the comics of his childhood, in addition to a Q+A and signing. These silver age comics not only influenced MARBLE SEASON, but also set the course for Gilbert, as well as his brothers Jaime and Mario, to become the legendary comics creator they are today.

MARBLE SEASON is the first ever semi-autobiographical novel by acclaimed cartoonist Gilbert Hernandez of Love & Rockets, and is also his first graphic novel for Drawn & Quarterly. Meet Huey. He’s the middle child of a big family, growing up in a California suburb in the 1960s. He stages Captain America plays in the backyard and treasures his older brother’s comic-book collection almost as much as his approval. Set against the golden age of the American dream and the silver age of comics, MARBLE SEASON is a subtle and deft rumination on the redemptive and timeless power of storytelling and worldbuilding in childhood.

Album Review - The Way Back, "EP"

WCB Music Writer 

Megan Purazrang 

There are times in music when an electronic-based sound is nothing more than a misfit, and lacks decent substance other than noise. However this is not the case for The Way Back, an electronic rock band consisting of Alex Ellis and Jeff Kinney (former member of Roanoke and The Brisbanes) as well as Daniel Cole and Paul Herman.

 The band’s EP is only a taste of the potential the full-length album will most likely hold when they begin 2013 in the studio. The electronic rock band consisting of Alex Ellis and Jeff Kinney (former member of Roanoke and The Brisbanes) as well as Daniel Cole and Paul Herman blends several genres giving an authentically created feel including: hip hop, pop, rock and even hints of experimental instrumental rhythms.

“Messages Get Lost” carries a pop-rock pulse with detailed percussion guiding the lyrics through.

“Out of Control” takes a more laid back ballad feel, bringing to mind a more mellow boy-band less straining version of that seen in the unique vocal techniques of Linkin’ Park lead singer Chester Bennington.

In the song “How It Has To Be” the band shines with the perfect batch of electronic beats and smooth vocals that vibrate with an R&B/hip hop style that has the potential to be a hit.

The Way Back has already gotten its feet wet in the music business, previously playing with well-known acts such as The Deftones and Everclear.

To follow the band and keep updated on the upcoming full-length check out the website: http://www.thewaybackmusic.com/fr_home.cfm 

Happy Holidays from WCB and Funny or Die

Yes, we've been quiet. To make up for it, here is the holday sad-off between Anne Hathaway and Samuel L. Jackson. You don't know holiday cheer until you've heard Anne say "It's a sad-off, motherfucker." to Nick Fury. Enjoy.

The Sad Off with Samuel L. Jackson and Anne Hathaway from Samuel L Jackson

Oshwa Q&A

Megan Purazrang
WCB Music Writer 


I recently spoke to Chicago-based band Oshwa to discuss its sound and the new EP and what's next.  The members are all current Columbia College Chicago students: Alicia Walter(vocalist), Jordan Tate(drummer), Michael Macdonald (guitarist) and most recent member  Michael Byrnes (bassist). Oshwa released a three song playlist on Bandcamp.com on Aug. 18 titled "transmissions from the midwest: a real-america tribute." 

Walter and Macdonald took time to answer a few questions for WCB. 

WCB: How did everyone in the band meet? 
 

Alicia: Well, despite being less than two years old we’ve had quite a few people involved in oshwa already - the core being myself, Michael Macdonald, Jordan Tate, Matt Noonan, and Michael Byrnes.  I met Michael Mac at a co-op we both lived in on the north side of Chicago, in summer 2010;  I met Jordan in Keyboard Ensemble when I transferred into Columbia College in September 2010;  Matt Noonan and I have been best friends of some sort since we were sophomores in high school; and the four of us all met Michael Byrnes when we recorded our most recent EP at Space Jam Studios.  And our current bassist, Seth Engel - I’ve known him since I asked him to play at the co-op Mike and I lived at, late 2010.

Michael Mac: Uh huh, yeah, so once we moved out of Ubuntu (aforementioned ‘co-op’) I moved to Pilsen in the 25^th Ward, she moved to Logan Square.  By the summer of 2011 she had moved to Pilsen as well, and we became neighbors. I started playing guitar on her songs, and we started playing shows together. We came to realize that we are both creatively compatible, and have certain musical intuitions that the other can put faith in.

WCB:  How did you come up with your band name?

Alicia: This is quoted from Matt Noonan, via Facebook chat: “The name oshwa comes from a nickname given to Alicia by her high school sweetheart on a bus ride after a marching band competition in Indianapolis.  He called her (with childish glee) "oshwa thee indian!"  He still calls her osh, despite how incredibly twee that all is.”

WCB:  What bands influence your sound and how would you describe Oshwa’s sound?

Alicia:  Our influences are actually pretty vast - Jordan and I are both finishing our degrees in Music Composition,  and we’ve both studied a wide range of piano repertoire through the 20th century.  We’ve both found composers that really strike us, between the two of us, namely Bartok and Scriabin. 

Michael Mac: Oshwa is ever-so-evolving! It is undergoing constant change, and to say what that is yet would be to speak to soon. However, we can say that the method of creating this record is different than recording the last EP, and that will have an impact on the material because of the level of control we have over it. The last EP was this sort of, “Hey guys, we’re a band,” …thing, and the purpose of it was primarily to document what we were doing as a live band at that time. We are recording the new record ourselves.  It has given us a certain freedom to do things that take time, like writing in wind and brass instruments and adding different sonic elements… things that we will translate into a live setting to take with us on tour this summer.

WCB: Talk about your EP- what were the challenges?

Alicia:  Personally, the challenge was actually having other people record us - even though the guys at Space Jam are our friends.  Michael Mac and I recorded our previous EP entirely ourselves, and, generally speaking, I have a hard time not having control.  But I really learned a helluva lot from Adam Salsberg and Seth Engel, from recording to mixing, and the whole experience was super positive.

WCB: How has the band changed since Michael entered? 

Alicia: Michael Byrnes took over on bass after Matt Noonan moved to Peru - and Michael himself has trans-atlanticized to Germany for the time being.   But when Michael Byrnes started playing with us, it was a big deal for me, because he was the first member who wasn’t a close friend of mine already.  It made me more confident that he liked playing in oshwa, since he wasn’t personally connected to us as friends, initially - he just genuinely liked the music. 

WCB: What is something that would be interesting to know about Oshwa?

Alicia:  We all sleep under the same rock!!!

Michael Mac: [chuckles] Well, we are hoping to get this Artist-in-Residency outside of Traverse City, Mi, in January.  It would basically entail Alicia and I holing up in a fully stocked cabin for the month, recording the meat of our album.  If that doesn’t work out, we’re going to drive to this really old cabin my extended family owns in Gaylord, Mi to finish it. Bon Iver style, sort of.

WCB: How often do you play live shows, where is your favorite place to perform?

Alicia: On average, we play about 2-3 shows a month.  Personally, I really dig a solid house show.  People really care about your music at those shows.  But playing in a venue with really nice sound is like eating cake and ice cream.

Michael Mac: Ice cream is a big influence here at Oshwa.

Alicia: (after seeing Michael Mac’s response): I was totally going to talk about ice cream!

Where do you see yourselves in the next five years musically speaking?

Alicia:  Step one, finish an album by May 2012!  And then we’re going to tour next summer.  After that... who knows?  We’ll still be doin’ this, somehow, someway.

Michael Mac: An older Oshwa.