News from Shangri-La

On Vox: JSA Vs. Kobra #2 over on The Source.

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:21:00 GMT

The esteemed Alex Segura provides a quick teaser for JSA Vs. Kobra: Engines of Faith #2 over on DC Comics' blog, The Source.

The article includes some teaser art and comments from the series' illustrator, Don Kramer.

Check it out.

Originally posted on erictrautmann.vox.com

Keep being awesome.

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 18:39:50 GMT

With all apologies to kali921 , I thought this was highly amusing.

On Vox: Pop Culture Zoo interview with Brandon Jerwa and I

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 00:00:14 GMT

My friend Brandon Jerwa and I had a chat recently with Joseph Dilworth, Jr. of Pop Culture Zoo, discussing the upcoming DC monthly book, The Shield (which I'm writing, and for which Brandon is providing scripts for a co-feature starring another Red Circle hero, Inferno).

Click the link and check it out.

Originally posted on erictrautmann.vox.com

On Vox: ...and the cat is now out of the bag: My new DC project announced.

Sat, 13 Jun 2009 20:29:53 GMT

Newsarama has a preview of the Sept. '09 DC solicits up, so that means I can say that I'm writing a new monthly ongoing series: The Shield, spinning out of J. Michael Straczynski's "Red Circle" series.

For the full skinny head on over to my website: www.eric-trautmann.com.

Originally posted on erictrautmann.vox.com

On Vox: As long as I'm talking about comics non-stop...

Sat, 13 Jun 2009 18:29:18 GMT

...I thought I might take a break from pimping JSA Vs. Kobra: Engines of Faith #1.

My good friend, Greg Rucka, has an interview up on IGN.com, talking about his Batwoman run in Detective Comics, which will be kicking JSA v K's ass in the sales charts.

Greg's Batwoman stories -- what little I've been privileged to see -- are astoundingly good, and JH Williams III's artwork is even better; a Rucka/Cully Hamner "Question" co-feature in each issue is also an excellent reason to shell out your hard-earned cash for a copy.

And you really should.

In any event: here's Greg's interview. Enjoy.

Originally posted on erictrautmann.vox.com

On Vox: First review of JSA vs. KOBRA #1 on Pop Culture Zoo

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 17:22:44 GMT

Joseph Dilworth, Jr. gives the first fairly lengthy review of JSA vs. Kobra #1 over on Pop Culture Zoo, and he says lots of nice things (for which there'll be a little somethin' extra in his check this week).

Check it out!

Originally posted on erictrautmann.vox.com

On Vox: JSA Vs. Kobra: Engines of Faith #1 Preview

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 00:31:50 GMT

Apparently, DC has made available a preview of JSA vs. Kobra: Engines of Faith #1. Follow this link, and click "Download Preview" for a .PDF of the first 7 or 8 pages, if you're interested or on the fence about the series.

Originally posted on erictrautmann.vox.com

On Vox: The Observatory 001

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 17:57:10 GMT

The first installment of my monthly column for MSN's Parallel Universe site is live.

Here's the link.

Go, read, enjoy.

I'm going to be throwing some "overflow" from the interviews up on my website later this week, so stop by and check that out, too.

Originally posted on erictrautmann.vox.com

On Vox: Signing: Wed. June 10th, 2009.

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 20:50:14 GMT

Jsavskobra_cvr-02

For those in the Olympia/Lacey, WA. area, I'll be signing at Olympic Cards & Comics (4230 Pacific Ave, Lacey, WA 98503) to celebrate the release of JSA vs. KOBRA: ENGINES OF FAITH #1.

I'll be there from noon to five (and probably later), so if you'd like me to deface your pristine copy with my illegible scrawl, I'm happy to oblige.

Originally posted on erictrautmann.vox.com

On Vox: Update: Eric's New Column...

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 21:03:10 GMT

Observatory_Logo

On Wed., June 10th, 2009, the first installment of a monthly pop-culture/commentary column I'm writing goes live.

The column, "The Observatory," will be included as part of MSN.com's "Parallel Universe" science-fiction/fandom apparatus, marking a return to my labors for Microsoft.

Part of my job here comes from my time spent working at the intersection of various media—comics, videogames, film/TV, science fiction novels, roleplaying games, and so on—and to provide a sort of a view from the trenches.

Watch this space for the live link on Wednesday, and please do weigh in on what you like, what you don't like, what you'd like to see, and so on.

Originally posted on erictrautmann.vox.com

On Vox: Oh, for crying out loud...

Tue, 26 May 2009 21:11:44 GMT

California Supreme Court upholds same-sex marriage ban, 6-1.

Because, you know, it would be wrong to treat gay people like they're human beings, entitled to the same rights, privileges and responsibilities of hetero couples.

Dear California Supreme Court:

Your homework tonight is too look up the word "Justice," and write it, and it's complete definition on the board until you get it. (Dissenting vote is excused from this assignment.)

::headdesk::

Some bright spark somewhere should figure out the legal argument that posits that, since a gay couple is denied the same legal rights as hetero couples, they do not enjoy the full range of state-proffered services, and thus should be exempt from full taxation.

Originally posted on erictrautmann.vox.com

On Vox: Beware writers bearing gifts...

Thu, 21 May 2009 03:00:09 GMT

As I continue to "move in" to my new website, I've been setting up some file downloads of scripts, vector-based artwork for making comic book sound effects, and today, some custom scatter brushes for use in Adobe Photoshop CS1 (and later).

Help yourself, y'all. :)

-E

Originally posted on erictrautmann.vox.com

On Vox: Re: Guy Ritchie's "Sherlock Holmes."

Tue, 19 May 2009 18:39:14 GMT

I love Robert Downey, Jr.; particularly of late, with Iron Man, Tropic Thunder, even A Scanner Darkly, he's quite a chameleon.

But, this?

No. Just...no.

Some Jeremy Brett to cleanse the palate, I should think.

Originally posted on erictrautmann.vox.com

On Vox: Excellent article on CBR...

Tue, 19 May 2009 01:26:39 GMT

Will Murray (who, among other things, wrote for Starlog, and wrote much of The Destroyer series from Lester Dent plots) was recently interviewed by Comic Book Resources, and he delivers a fascinating survey course on pulp fiction.

Wonderful stuff.

Here's the link.

Originally posted on erictrautmann.vox.com

On Vox: Some minor housekeeping.

Sun, 17 May 2009 22:05:30 GMT

Couple minor tweaks over on the website, plus some freebies -- some vector-based source files for comic book lettering sound effects, which I've used in a few projects here and there. (They require Adobe Illustrator to edit, but are offered free of restriction, and can be imported -- with some finagling -- into a good image editor like Photoshop.)

Files can be found under Downloads > Artwork > Lettering Tools.

Share and enjoy.

Originally posted on erictrautmann.vox.com

On Vox: CLEAN, LEMONY-FRESH VICTORY IS MINE!

Sat, 16 May 2009 19:31:46 GMT

So, after several days of trying to navigate GoDaddy's HORRIBLE, convoluted dashboard, I have managed to finally get my website up and running again.

My thanks to my friend Wendy for all her help.

So, I'm quite excited to finally have a decent web space set up, one which I'm actually able to update regularly.

PLEASE do check it out -- it's lonely.

www.eric-trautmann.com

HA!

Originally posted on erictrautmann.vox.com

On Vox: I summon the Power of Friends On The Interwebs™...

Fri, 15 May 2009 22:30:16 GMT

A while back, someone sent me a link to a design blog, where someone had done these really cool "novel"-style designs for graphic novel covers. Just mockups, but there was a really neat Daredevil cover, and a few others.

I can't find that link anywhere. Anyone know what I'm talking about? And if so, can you send me that link?

Thanks!

-E

Originally posted on erictrautmann.vox.com

On Vox: Website hijinks.

Fri, 15 May 2009 18:03:44 GMT

So, a simple domain redirect has turned into a giant, three-day nightmare (culminating with my website pretty much being inaccessible at the regular address: www.eric-trautmann.com; don't go there for now, I guess).

Thanks, Go Daddy! You're the best.

::headdesk::

For the moment, if you wanted to zip on over to my temporary web presence @ http://www.erictrautmann.us, you can see what my website is supposed to look like.

Over time, I'm going to gradually phase out a lot of blog activity, and consolidate it there.

There's some free goodies (Wide Awake desktop wallpapers in all kinds of sizes, a Creative Commons script for you artist types, and more coming). It's lonely. Go say hi.

(On the plus side, I'm starting to really love hating Go Daddy.)

Originally posted on erictrautmann.vox.com

On Vox: Website hijinks.

Fri, 15 May 2009 18:03:44 GMT

Thanks, Go Daddy! You're the best.

::headdesk::

For the moment, if you wanted to zip on over to my temporary web presence @ http://www.erictrautmann.us, you can see what my website is supposed to look like.

Over time, I'm going to gradually phase out a lot of blog activity, and consolidate it there.

There's some free goodies (Wide Awake desktop wallpapers in all kinds of sizes, a Creative Commons script for you artist types, and more coming). It's lonely. Go say hi.

(On the plus side, I'm starting to really love hating Go Daddy.)

Originally posted on erictrautmann.vox.com

On Vox: Between The Panels podcast...

Thu, 14 May 2009 03:37:30 GMT

William, at the Between the Panels Podcast interviewed me the other day, probably the most in-depth discussion I've had, with topics ranging from JSA vs. Kobra: Engines of Faith to webcomics to why the industry needs young-readers comics, to my experiences at Microsoft.

It was a lot of fun, and you should check it out.

I particularly liked the graphic that was whipped up as a promo for the piece. Very nice. :)

Between+the+Panels+-+10

Originally posted on erictrautmann.vox.com

On Vox: New wheels.

Fri, 08 May 2009 19:24:33 GMT

No pics yet but...

I finally replaced my much-beloved 2005 PT Cruiser (which had been totaled in a nasty accident back in December).

My wife -- who is the supreme ruler of all things financial and research-intensive -- worked her magic and actually found a brand-spanking new 2008 PT Cruiser, the first new new car I've ever owned. And got a screaming deal on it.

Not a lot more than my first Cruiser, but with all kinds of bells and whistles. Finally have a sunroof, a good stereo (which I can plug my iPod into, thank God -- radio reception out by Shady Trautmann Acres is awful), Sirius for a year, and a way-too-peppy turbocharged engine.

It's black and shiny and I love it.

I'm not a huge "car" guy, but the blue Cruiser was the first car I'd ever truly loved to drive. Very comfortable (something about the design and height of the seats, I suspect, which fit my frame perfectly), and with a lot of utility, plus that pseudo-art deco look? Sold.

Gab busted her hump finding it; I mean, several solid months of looking around, researching, and mercilessly bending car salesmen to her will (which is entertaining all by itself). She so rocks.

Pics to follow.

Originally posted on erictrautmann.vox.com

On Vox: Eric's (Spoiler Free) Star Trek notes.

Fri, 08 May 2009 17:11:47 GMT

Very not bad. Lots to like.
Not perfect. Lots of stuff to make you go "huh?"
Well paced, doesn't let up.
Nice mix of character and action beats.
For the most part, the cast works well.
Zoe Saldana is gorgeous.
I was eventually won over by Christopher Pine, but did enjoy watching him get punched in the face. Over. And over. And over.
Karl Urban essays McCoy flawlessly.
Zoe Saldana is gorgeous. Really. Not kidding.
Simon Pegg doesn't work as Scotty, but doesn't ruin it.
Eric Bana is game, but doesn't get a lot of space to breathe as villain.
Uh, black holes don't do that.
Pike is awesome.
Zoe Saldana is gorgeous. Seriously.
Syler/Spock is doubleplus excellent.
This movie is NOT for Trekkies/Trekkers -- though it makes it palatable enough for us. It's for people who aren't diehard fans, and it delivers a compelling experience for them, that those of us who think that tiny little scoutship years before the construction of Enterprise wouldn't be carrying 800 people won't mind. Yes, I AM that nerd, thank you.
Definitely worth a watch, and certainly not an insult to intelligence and assault on goodwill (like Wolverine, or worse offenders like the Star Wars prequels, Spider-Man 3, or the Matrix sequels).

Originally posted on erictrautmann.vox.com

On Vox: Your regularly scheduled misanthropy.

Tue, 05 May 2009 17:49:43 GMT

For a variety of reasons, I've elected not to continue the 100 Movies Meme, as much as I enjoyed it. Too hard to mesh my viewing schedule with my wife's, and lately I've been watching movies I don't think merit actual comment.

I did see a few things recently that I quite enjoyed.

Finally got to see WALL-E, in glorious Blu-Ray. HOLY SMOKES, what a terrific movie. More than made up for CARS, which was the only truly lackluster Pixar movie I've encountered. Ben Burtt's sound effects made the film for me, and Wall-E himself is clearly an inspired hybrid of R2-D2 and E.T., which means I'm genetically imprinted to respond favorably to him.

Watched The Wrestler recently as well, and loved it. Mickey Roarke is riveting, and the movie is -- as is common for Aronofsky -- bleak, painful, and unimaginably sad. Not for the faint of heart (especially the bit with the staple gun), but a tremendous bit of acting from Roarke, and from Marisa Tomei.

And then, there's X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Yes, yes, it made $80+ million opening weekend. Whatever. It's still a thuggish, stupid movie, with laughable dialogue, creaky special effects (there are several moments where the adamantium claws look like they're rendered in the style of Who Framed Roger Rabbit?), and a nonsensical über-threat.

Which is a pity, because all the ingredients of a good movie were there. Poor Hugh Jackman, saddled with some of the worst dialogue outside of a 1990s-era Image comic, is game as hell, really working his ass off to sell those lines. And Liev Schreiber worked shockingly well as Victor Creed. The scenes between Logan and Victor crackle. Don't be fooled by the trailer -- Schreiber, for the most part, underplays Victor, and has probably added eighty pounds of muscle to his normally lanky frame. Much better than the Sabretooth we saw in the first X-Men movie.

But lord, the movie is a mess. At turns plodding, pointless and silly, with a few genuinely good moments worked in. Gambit is cool, though his Texas accent is inexplicable; Ryan Reynolds as Wade Wilson is genuinely great, until the movie hijacks the character and turns him into something painfully dumb.

The ostensible villain of the piece might as well have worn a long mustache, which he could twirl as he cackles menacingly, probably whilst chaining virgins to train tracks. Danny Huston is a good actor, who's been turning in basically the same performance since The Constant Gardener, so his version of Stryker is tremendously disappointing.

A misconceived idea from the outset. If you're gonna do a Wolverine movie, it damn well better be Wolverine vs. Hand ninjas. I mean, come on.

Oh, and the multiple "secret" teaser endings? Dear filmmakers: if you're going to do this, it'd be nice if they were all, y'know, interesting. The screening we attended had a teaser ending that essentially consisted of one guy, sitting at a bar. That's it. Guy. Sitting. A guy we just spent two hours watching do things.

Lame. Lame lame lame.

Originally posted on erictrautmann.vox.com

On Vox: Share and enjoy.

Tue, 05 May 2009 17:34:56 GMT

Brandon and I were pleased to see Wide Awake (you've read it, right? Hm? HM?) get some love from the comics press.

Pop Culture Zoo led the charge (thanks, Joseph!), followed quickly by Newsarama (thanks Matt and Vaneta!); Elliot Serrano's RedEye Chicago blog picked it up as well (thanks Elliot!).

For the most part, the webcomic has been well-received, and we're eager to bring you the next installment.

If you liked the webcomic, please let us know, either here, or via my website, or the host site for the comic -- wideawakeonline - at - gmail will also get you a response. We're eager to hear from you.

Hopefully, this'll end the in-your-face shilling for a bit, and I will resume normal blogging activity shortly: bitching about X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Star Trek, TV shows, etc. and generally being a misanthrope.

Originally posted on erictrautmann.vox.com

On Vox: Free Comic Book Day wrap-up

Sun, 03 May 2009 03:48:49 GMT

Getting ready to hit the road, pleasantly tired.

Free Comic Book Day was a resounding success -- aside from blowing through the ridiculous number of free funnybooks, we set a store sales' record, and everyone who came in seemed to have a fabulous time.

Got to spend time with old friends like Brandon Jerwa and his charming/awesome family; Eric Nylund (who was accompanied by his wife, novelist Syne Mitchell and their son); Joshua Ortega and his wife and children, and Neal Bailey and his charming bride.

Sold several posters, talked up the webcomic (which has been well-received), and generally spent a frantic day running from pillar to post helping people somewhat overwhelmed by the whole experience.

A really good day, and my sincere thanks to all the guests, friends, regular customers and staff.

Will sleep the sleep of the righteous tonight, I think.

Originally posted on erictrautmann.vox.com