Flesk Publications News and Updates
The Spanish artist Victor de la Fuente passed away in June 2010. While I never had the honor of meeting him, I have long marveled at his art. I have heard many kind things about Victor from my friend Manuel Auad, who had a four-decade friendship with Victor. Manuel has written a long tribute with biographical notes supplemented by samples of Victor’s art on his Auad Publishing blog. You can read it by clicking here.
John
John Fleskes
Flesk Publications
Mark Schultz is working on over twenty new spot illustrations for inclusion in our upcoming Xenozoic collection coming fall 2010. (Click here for full details about the book.) Mark recently sent me the preliminary and finished artwork above, which will be used as the chapter header for the story “Another Swarm.”
At the moment Mark is hand coloring the artwork for the cover to Xenozoic. The cover you see on the website, and shown here, is a digitally colored placeholder done by Randall Dahlk until Mark completes his coloring. I’m particularly excited by Mark’s willingness to use a traditional method of coloring instead of a computer. While I enjoy both computer and traditional art, I have the opinion that there is a certain “feel” that can only be obtained by using traditional tools. I’ll post the finished piece once it is ready.
On another Schultz topic, the new issue of The Spirit is out. You can get this second issue at your local comic book shop. Mark has written the first three issues of this new series.
Enjoy,
John
John Fleskes
Flesk Publications
The new Spirit series hits the stores this week. Mark Schultz writes the first three issues, with art by Moritat. As a treat, Mark sent me this scan of the black and white art for his 1:10 variant cover to the book to share on my blog. Thanks Mark!
Jeffrey Renaud conducted an informative interview with Mark about his writing The Spirit at the Comic Book Resources website, which you can read by clicking here. You can also see an online preview of the comic at the following DC Comics link here.
Enjoy,
John
John Fleskes
Flesk Publications
I was thrilled to receive the new Bud’s Art Books catalog in the mail featuring our Al Williamson’s Flash Gordon book on the cover. I was a nice surprise. This is the first time one of our books has been on the cover of their main catalog.
I consider Bud’s Art Books to be the best resource for obtaining art books that meet my interests. You can view their entire stock online, or request a catalog by visiting their website here.
John
John Fleskes
Flesk Publications
For all those Mark Schultz fans out there, he drew a new cover for the October 2009 issue of Comics Revue. The greatest strips of yesteryear are collected and celebrated in this great magazine devoted to the early days of sequential art. This issue features a complete Flash Gordon story by Dan Barry and Harry Harrison, and begins the serial of the first Mandrake the Magician story, “the Cobra”, reprinted for the first time since 1934 in English along with color strips featuring the Phantom, Casey Ruggles and more.
You can pick up a copy at Bud’s Art Books by clicking here.
John
John Fleskes
Flesk Publications
I’ve been following the work of Terry Dodson for over ten years now. During that time, I’ve watched him grow, and become more of his own, into a confidant and inspirational artist.
He has drawn a string of consistently well-embellished comics, including a Storm mini-series (1996), and Pryde and Wisdom (1996), then a run on Generation X (1998-2000). Harley Quinn (2000-02), Spider-Man and the Black Cat: The Evil that Men Do, Trouble (2003), Marvel Knights Spider-Man (2004), and Wonder Woman (2006), all followed. Currently, he is doing terrific work on Uncanny X-Men, as well as many covers for Marvel. Most of these are available in easy to find trade collections. His wife, Rachel, beautifully inks his work.
My favorite work of Dodson’s is his Songes: Caroline. The first volume was published in 2006, along with a sketchbook with related material in 2007, by the French publisher Les Humanoides Associes. This material is absolutely stunning. You can see a preview of the interior pages, and purchase copies from Stuart Ng Books here.
Dodson had a gallery show at the Galerie du 9eme art in Paris that ran from June 4-10, 2009. They have many of the pieces that were on display at the exhibit on their website here. Take a look at the great watercolor drawings!
Terry will be exhibiting at the Comic-Con International in San Diego this July 23-26 at booth 4706. He will have copies of his latest sketchbook, Bombshells Volume 4, and original artwork for sale.
Terry has a blog chronicling his work on Uncanny X-men and other various projects, here. There is new artwork, step-by-step sections, and prelims, all with accompanying commentary.
There is also a comprehensive gallery of his art online at the Comic Art Fans website here.
Check out all of these links. They are worth the time. Enjoy!
John
John Fleskes
Flesk Publications
I have a few Ebay auctions going right now. There are originals by John Byrne, Bernie Wrightson, Jeff Smith, Sheldon Moldoff, Dave McKean, Shane Glines, Arthur Adams, Gray Morrow, and more. My Ebay ID is “fleskpublications.” You can click here to see everything I have available at the moment. I will be posting some fresh auctions next week.
Best,
John
John Fleskes
Flesk Publications
The following new Nexus collection and Nexus comics have just been announced from RudeDude Productions. Steve Rude and his wife, Jaynelle, founded Rude Dude Productions, LLC in 2006 to revive his award-winning character, Nexus, and continue his new series, The Moth. These are available through Diamond Comic Distributors, along with our very own Steve Rude: Artist in Motion book.
PEORIA, ARIZONA- April 9, 2009 – Rude Dude Productions announced today that Nexus As it Happened V1 is now available for presale through Diamond. Though the company started off rocky with late and cancelled titles, their new policy of having books completed before they are solicited is guaranteed to get books out on time or early and is sure to please retailers and fans alike.
Nexus: As it Happened Volume 1 is a reprint of the Nexus Archives currently on sale through Dark Horse comics in an affordable black and white paperback version.
On the distant moon of Ylum, an enigmatic man is plagued by nightmares. He is forced to dream of the past. He dreams of real-life butchers and tyrants, and what they have done.
And then he finds them, and kills them.
The year is 2841, and this man is Nexus, a godlike figure who acts as judge, jury, and executioner for the vile criminals who appear in his dreams. He claims to kill in self-defense, but why? Where do the visions come from, and where did he get his powers? Though a hero to many, does he have any real moral code? These are but some of the questions that reporter Sundra Peale hopes to have answered. Collecting Nexus #1-3 (Vol. 1., black and white) and Nexus #1-4 (Vol. 2, full color), from Capital Comics.
A multiple Eisner Award-winning series that defined the careers of acclaimed creators Steve Rude and Mike Baron, Nexus is a modern classic not to be missed!
216 pages, B&W, 6″ X 8.5″
Retail Price: $9.99
Street Date: June 16, 2009
DCD Code: APR09 0982
Nexus: The Origin Remastered
Nexus: The Origin received three Eisners, including best single issue, and dozens of four-star write-ups and reviews. This double-sized, definitive issue remains as cutting edge and relevant as the day of it’s original release in 1991. This new release includes 8 exclusive bonus pages and was done in prestige format!
It’s all here–from the beginning! See why Nexus the Origin has become a fan classic to span the decades!
56 pages, COLOR, Prestige Format, Standard Comic Size, Reprint
DCD Code: MAR09 4410
List Price: $4.99
Nexus: Space Opera Concluded
Combined into one, double-sized colossal issue, Nexus 101 and 102 will together bring our series “Soap Opera” to its final conclusion. Publisher Steve Rude says, “Considering the inordinate expanse of time that has passed since the release of our last issue, fans expectations will be singularly high. Let’s see if Baron and Rude can deliver the final goods.”
Both issues are done through color so the release is on schedule and on time!!
Synopsis:
Nexus 101: “The Past Swung Up and Hit Me Like a Rake” will leave you breathless. Can it really be Kreed, the most lethal Quatro of all time? But how? He killed himself! The answer will blow your mind. The situation with the Elvonics is at boiling point. Elvon Supreme leads the greatest fleet ever launched on Ylum. Nexus travels to Earth to address the United Planets. His speech is not well received. Ylum will be embargoed, if it survives Elvon’s assault force. Old friends return, and old enemies, in the most shocking climax of any comic this year.
Nexus 102: “A Death in the Family” Ylum stand isolated and condemned by the United Web as the greatest invasion force in history draws near. In one of the most shocking episode in Nexus’ long history, Sundra defends her child from a merciless foe – a foe who was once Sundra’s best friend. Nexus must choose between saving his planet and suffering universal condemnation or obeying the will of the web. Nexus 102 will pummel you with anxiety fits, too weak to even call 911!
56 pages, COLOR, Prestige Format, Standard Comic Size
DCD Code: TBD – May Previews
Street Date: July 15
List Price: $4.99
RudeDudeProductions.com
www.SteveRude.com
www.SteveRudeArt.com
Part Two of Mark Schultz’s interview with Dwight and Swain has been posted at the Sidebar website. Scroll down to the December 17, 2008 entry for the link to the sound file.
John Fleskes
Flesk Publications
There’s a new Mark Schultz interview available online at Sidebar. The cool thing about this talk is it is a sound file, so you can download and listen to it. I spoke with Mark about his experience being interviewed by Sidebar hosts Dwight Clark and Swain Hunt, and he told me they instantly made him feel comfortable, and asked smart atypical questions. He really enjoyed the experience. As a result, Mark feels this is his best interview to date.
Part one is online at their site and runs about one hour. This covers much of Mark’s influences. Part 2 will be posted in the near future, going into his upcoming projects, such as Storms at Sea, and Various Drawings Volume Four, both being published by Flesk.
Besides Mark’s interview, Dwight and Swain post informative and fun to read news on upcoming and new books, movies, comics, animation topics, and more interviews, such as one with Jim Starlin.
Sidebar: Four Color Conversations on Comics, Art & Pop Culture is definitely worth checking out on a regular basis.
John Fleskes
Flesk Publications