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Friday, April 05, 2013

Thursday, April 04, 2013

SOMETHING LIGHT-HEARTED: HAPPY CHEWIE

The Comics Industry has lost one of its biggest legends.... CARMINE INFANTINO passed away today at the age of 87.

via ign:

Infantino began his career in the early 1940s and would go on to co-create some of the most recognizable characters in superhero comics, including Barry Allen (Flash), Barbara Gordon (Batgirl), Black Canary, Elongated Man, Deadman, and Animal Man. He'd become most revered for his work with the Flash, where he helped introduce Barry Allen in Showcase #4 in 1956 along with the sleek red and yellow costume that we still see today in DC's New 52. He also co-created many of the Flash's signature rogues, like Captain Boomerang, Mirror Master, Captain Cold, and Gorilla Grodd.

Infantino should also be noted for his stint as an editorial director at DC (and later publisher), where he would be instrumental in bringing on creators that would ultimately create some of their signature works at the company. People like Jack Kirby, Denny O'Neil, Dick Giordano, and Neil Adams were all hired away from other publishers under Infantino's watch, launching a new era of creativity at DC Comics as it headed into the 1970s.

Artist George Perez posted on his Facebook, "So sad to learn of the passing of another comic book legend. Carmine Infantino was one of the great influential artists in the history of the medium and I will always look upon his Adam Strange, Flash and Space Museum stories as wondrous examples of fantasy made even more magical at the hands of a master. RIP, Carmine."

Later in his career, Infantino would go on to work on titles like Star Wars and Nova, until retiring from sequential work to begin teaching at the School of Visual Arts during the 90s. Infantino remains one of the most influential figures to ever grace comics, and our thoughts are with his friends, family, students, and fans.

RIP ROGER EBERT

Aww man.... film critic ROGER EBERT died today after a long battle with Cancer. He was 70.

Growing up, "SISKEL & EBERT" was one of the few (main) movie critic shows available on Network Television (this was pre-Cable and pre-Internet days). Whether I agreed or disagreed with Ebert's movieopinions, his passion for Cinema was apparent and contributed to my own love of the medium.

Two thumbs up, Mr Ebert.
Rest in Peace.

Here's Ebert and Siskel reviewing 'Aliens', which they did not love to say the least, haha:

HERE is Ebert's written review from the suntimes.
(if link broken, click HERE)

and a previous post, with hilarious excerpts from their 'Alien: Resurrection' exchange.

Wednesday, April 03, 2013

KICK-ASS SKYWALKER

READER PROMO: BLACK INC PRODUCTIONS

Longtime JimSmash Reader ANTHONY write in:

I am part of a independent film group called "Black Inc. Productions" we recently started to re-brand ourselves and we are marketing like crazy. My friends and I have been long time fans and readers and I was wondering if it would be possible to feature one of our shorts on JIMSMASH. I understand you probably get hundreds of requests like this but I figured I'd try anyway. You see this has been our passion since we were 12 years old, now we are 25 and its becoming clear that the jobs we are in are just that, Jobs. Myself and the rest of "Black Inc." would greatly appreciate your help in featuring us because we strive to be more than just average Joe's. We completely understand that your time is valuable and that every request from fans can not be fulfilled, that being said we will always be loyal fans no matter what.

Once again Thank you for your time,

Anthony Maurer
amaurerdesign.com

P.S. Here is a link to our latest YouTube Video

My pleasure! Thanks for reading JIMSMASH!

Tuesday, April 02, 2013

BATTLE-ARMOR TYRION STATUE

"There are brave men knocking on our door.

....Let's go kill them!"

(If you're not watching 'GAME OF THRONES' you reallyyyy should)

KIRK VS GORN - ROUND 2

*(God, the JJ Gorns looks fucking stupid. There was nothing wrong with the original design, only the budget for the suit)

SHOT STITCHING: 'ALIEN' & 'ALIENS'

via scifimoviezone.com:

RIDLEY SCOTT'S ALIEN 1979
THE UNDERCARRIAGE ROOM

No artistic effects were applied to this photo. It's an original screenshot unaltered. This is the room, often called the "chain room", where Brett is attacked by the alien creature. It's filled with massive hardware. However during that scene the camera starts panning up till it reaches the ceiling. But the camera never pulls back and allow us to see just how massive that hardware was.

I imported key frames from that sequence, into Photoshop and merged them using layers and fading effects to compose the complete picture. Now after 33 years, you can see the massive size of that hardware in the Undercarriage room. Because angle views were involved the chains don't quite match up, but I sacrificed that discrepancy to give priority on capturing it's entire size .

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JAMES CAMERON'S ALIENS
THE ALIEN ENCRUSTED CHAMBER

No artistic effects were applied to this photo. It's an original screenshot unaltered. However during that scene the camera starts at the ceiling and pans down till it reaches the lower walls where the marines are. But the camera never pulls back and for over 25 years we have never seen that entire room.

I imported key frames from that sequence, into Photoshop and merged them using layers and fading effects to compose the complete picture. Now you can see the alien encrusted chamber in it's entirety .

RANDOM FIND: HARSH

THE M-WORD (LAME)

SIDESHOW COMMANDER WOLFFE (FROM CLONE WARS!)

I splurged and picked up the COMMANDER BACARA (my favorite) but man, I'm kinda wanting to get several of these Sideshow Clonetrooper deluxe figures....

NICE SHIRTS

CHESTBURSTER IN A CAN

This was one of ThinkGeek's April Fools Jokes yesterday...

but I want it made asap!!!

TUESDAY COSPLAY: MOHAWK STORM

by cosplayer Elio

ALIENBUSTERS

Check out this piece DAVID PIETRANDREA did for the Tribute to Sigourney Weaver show!

via dreamweavery.com:
David Pietrandrea is an illustrator and game designer based in New York City. His deep love of Sigourney Weaver was born out of obsessive and repeated viewings of Alien and Ghostbusters. When not drawing Lt. Ripley, David makes video games, checks Facebook, and draws Lt. Ripley. He created the mobile game Grimm: Ride of the Perambulator for iPhone and is currently hard at work on his next independent title.

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bonus pic:

from same show, by Earl Barrett-Holloway

Monday, April 01, 2013

A NEW HOPE

via StarWars.com:

“Are you an angel?”

That’s what Star Wars geeks everywhere are saying of Kathleen Kennedy, the newly appointed president of LucasFilm, when she announce Disney’s plan to remake Episodes I, II, III.

“We just felt the first three films were skewed a little too young, so it’s back to the drawing board,” Kennedy stated at a press conference on the steps of ILM.

According to her, the remakes will focus more on Anakin’s teen years as he is seduced by the Sith and the Dark side of the Force. Other notable changes are the number of Sith rivaling that of the Jedi and keeping Boba Fett’s identity more of a mystery.

Lucas will act as creative consultant on the new "Star Wars" films, which will go into production simultaneously, with a scheduled release before J.J. Abrams Episode 7. Directors for the new Star Wars prequels have not yet been announced.

Just kidding - April Fools!