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Gutter Magic #1

According to his Twitter account, rich Douek is a copywriter by day, comic creator by night. In this case, that comic is Gutter Magic, a new miniseries from IDW. Westfield’s Roger Ash contacted Douek to learn more about the comic.

Westfield: What is the genesis of Gutter Magic?

Rich Douek: Gutter Magic is a fantasy story I’ve been working on for a long time, first as a novel, then as a series of short comics that I self-published, and finally in the miniseries we are putting out with IDW and Comics Experience this January.

Gutter Magic preview page 1

Westfield: What can readers look forward to in the story?

Douek: Well, we’ve got an immensely detailed setting that mixes the modern world and magic in weird and wonderful ways – no secret societies here, it’s wizards, goblins, elves and dragons all running around on the streets of midtown Manhattan!

Story-wise, we’re talking about a fast-paced, high action heist that blends pulp adventure, high fantasy, and gritty crime. and man, do we have some killer art bringing it all to life.

Gutter Magic preview page 2

Westfield: who are the main characters in the book?

Douek: The main character is Cinder Byrnes – a young man born into a family of powerful mages – the only problem is, he can’t cast a spell to save his life! To fix his connection to the power of magic, he enlists a partner in crime – the goblin, Blacktooth. together they’ve been stealing the pieces of a powerful spell that should do the trick.

The only problem is, one of the pieces they’ve stolen belongs to The Morgue, a feared necromancer and crime lord, who sends a gang of thugs led by her daughter, Shiver, to collect Cinder’s head before he can figure out how to cast the spell.

Gutter Magic preview page 3

Westfield: The art by Brett Barkley is really stunning. What can you say about your collaboration with him?

Douek: Brett has been fantastic to work with, as have Jules Rivera and Nic Shaw, the other members of our creative team. all of them pay an fantastic attention to detail, and have really professional attitudes.

With Brett in particular, my favorite part of working with him is that he puts so much thought into the designs he creates, both for environments and character. We’ve spent hours talking and emailing about how things should look and feel, and he knocks it out of the park every time.

Westfield: I really enjoy the mix of magic and the real world in the story. how much world building did you do for the series?

Douek: In short, a lot! I’ve filled up a few notebooks of details, everything from how magic works, to the politics of the city, to the reason why wizards prefer real wine over the conjured stuff (and there is one!). Not all of it makes it into the story, obviously, but knowing all those details really helps make the world feel alive, especially when they’re rendered as beautifully as they are in the book.

Westfield: Do you hope to do more Gutter Magic stories when this series is done?

Douek: Yes. I feel like I could tell stories in this world for years to come. I have arcs plotted out for all the main characters, and I hope I’ll be able to get to do them, if not right away after this miniseries ends, then somewhere down the road.

Gutter Magic #1 subscription Cover by Gabriel Iumazark

Westfield: any closing comments?

Douek: I just want to take a minute to highlight Comics Experience, one of our publishing partners along with IDW. It’s an online school and workshop for comic creation. When I took my first intro to comics writing course there, I developed part of the story that eventually became this miniseries. I can honestly say the book wouldn’t exist without CE. I’m really proud to be part of the publishing program there, along with quality books like Tet, Drones, and creature Cops, not to mention the second wave of titles coming out next year.

Purchase

Gutter Magic #1

several teams of Ghostbusters from across the multiverse have just about pulled off a very tough task—tracking down and recapturing all the ghosts that had escaped from the containment unit. crisis averted, right? They wish. In this issue, the Ghostbusters of lots of worlds come face-to-face with the goddess of chaos herself. TIAMAT has RETURNED!
Bullet points:
• Variant cover by Harvey Tolibao!

Ghostbusters: crossing Over #7—Cover A: Dan Schoening
Erik Burnham (w) • Dan Schoening (a & c)
FC • 32 pages • $3.99

Ghostbusters: crossing Over #7—Cover B: Tim Lattie
Erik Burnham (w) • Dan Schoening (a) • Tim Lattie (c)
FC • 32 pages • $3.99

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Home page Highlights,
Press release

DEAL includes original COMICS and PROSE, and right TO RE-PRINT EXISTING NOVELS OF iconic CHARACTER

Shaft’s carnival of Killers

 May 29th, 2014, Mt. Laurel, NJ: Dynamite entertainment announced today their agreement to bring John Shaft into the Dynamite fold!  The agreement covers not only original comics and graphic novels, but also new prose, and includes the right to re-print all existing Shaft novels.

John Shaft is a fictional character created by writer Ernest Tidyman.  A tough, take no guff detective who composer/singer Isaac Hayes described him, in the Oscar-winning theme from Shaft as: “the Black private dick that’s a sex machine to all the chicks.”

Most people are familiar with John Shaft via the movies, the original 1971 film, and it’s two sequels, all starring actor Richard Roundtree in the title role, which helped spawn the 70’s blaxploitation film movement, and make Shaft a household name.  There was also a Shaft film in 2000 with Samuel L. Jackson reprising the role as Shaft’s nephew.

But between 1970 and 1975, Ernest Tidyman actually wrote seven Shaft novels:

Shaft (1970)

Shaft among the Jews (1972)

Shaft’s big Score (1972)

Shaft has a Ball (1973)

Goodbye, Mr. Shaft (1973)

Shaft’s carnival of Killers (1974)

The Last Shaft (1975)

These novels have long been out of print, and Dynamite intends to bring these back and make them available again.  In addition, the new prose stories and original graphic Novels will be the first new Shaft stories, outside of the movie, since Tidyman’s passing.  further editorial plans for new comics and prose will be announced at a later date.

Ernest Tidyman

Ernest Tidyman was quoted on the origins of Shaft: “The idea came out of my awareness of both the social and literary situation in a changing city. There are winners, survivors & losers in the new York scheme of things. It was time for a black winner, whether he was a private detective or an obstetrician.”

Curtis brown literary agent Steve Kasdin, who represents the Tidyman estate said: “The literary craftsmanship that built John Shaft sent him into the world fully formed and moving. You knew who and what he was from jump Street. So much so that even a less than stellar sequel or two didn’t kill his standing. The consensus seemed to be: ‘Oh my Lord, they done put poor Shaft in another bad movie.’  I’m thrilled with Dynamite’s vision for Shaft, and look forward to his new adventures.”

“John Shaft is an American Icon, with feature films starring Richard Roundtree and Samuel L. Jackson.  Shaft has resonated in popular culture because he’s such a cool, compelling character.  We couldn’t be more happy that we’re getting a chance to tell new stories in multiple mediums, with all new prose in addition to original graphic Novels, and create a publishing program that will bring Shaft back to the forefront of pop culture, where he belongs!” said Nick Barrucci, CEO/Publisher of Dynamite.

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This publish is Filed Under:

Home page Highlights,
Interviews as well as Columns

Beau Smith, The Last person you wanna see pop outta your birthday cake.

by beloved Smith

“Surprise!”

That’s something I don’t feel I’m getting from marvel as well as DC Comics ideal now. In fact, they haven’t shocked me in a extremely long time. Is it since I’ve grown jaded as well as worn out of superhero comic books? Nope. might it be that I no longer “get” what’s happening in today’s contemporary pop culture? Nope. then what’s the deal?

“Surprise! This person killed Your Uncle Ben.”

The “deal” is that technology, the method we take in comics in addition to the composing as well as editing at marvel as well as DC has changed. innovation has altered at warp speed within comic books as well as that’s a extremely great thing. The issue is that the composing as well as editing maker is still being run like it was in the last century.

“Surprise! You Should’ve gotten several Copies Of This!”

I admit, it’s a hard thing to make characters 70 years as well as older feel new as well as vibrant. however you understand what? That must be a great difficulty to writers as well as editors. It shouldn’t be something that you just slouch your shoulders as well as sigh to. It’s something you roll your sleeves up as well as dig your hands additionally into the dirt to plant new roots.

This is no “Rah-Rah” speech. This is a “If you want my money, you much better stand as well as deliver” speech.

At generally $4.00 a pop, you had much better entertain me as well as keep me entertained, or I can take that money as well as pay expenses with it (or something else grown up). It’ll be fascinating to see what occurs with the current Superman movie. If, by some chance, it becomes a box office as well as crucial success, then expect DC to not only modification horses in the middle of the stream, however to likewise make him multiply like rabbits; extremely dark, depressing rabbits. If the motion picture tanks, then prepare to keep being fed vanilla on white bread with mayo.

“Surprising Batman On A poor Day.”

I recognize that merchants have to buy method in development as well as solicitations have to be enticing to ensure that both merchants as well as visitors will be hooked into ordering more, however you don’t have to provide all the milk away with the cow. The solicitation will open the door, I comprehend that. however it’s the whole story as well as characters that will hook them as well as keep them coming back. For that to occur you’re gonna have to surprise me now as well as then.

“Surprise! They killed Your Cousin…Or Her Clone…”

I don’t indicate the inexpensive “kill somebody off” stunt that’s deader than the characters that are killed. I’m speaking about character as well as plot surprises that are securely woven like fine clothing. For this to happen, writers are going to have to believe smarter. Editors are going to have to let the writers not only take chances, however be wise sufficient to see that an fascinating character can offer a lot more comics than a variant cover or an over revealed reboot, revamp, or whatever the publishers are disguising it as these days.

Do I noise angry? I hope not, since I’m not. I’m a visitor that has money as well as I want my money’s worth. If I continue to spend my money on comics that don’t entertain me, month after month, then the only person I must be upset with is myself. I’m smarter than that as well as I believe you are too.

“Surprise! visitors want Surprises!”

Don’t clear up for what’s being force fed to you. buy off the menu as well as let them surprise you with something that will satisfy your comic book hunger. They have to serve as well as satisfy you, not the other method around.

Your hungry amigo,

Beau Smith

The flying Fist Ranch

www.flyingfistranch.com