Newsarama Hates Fialkov

JOSHUA HALE FIALKOV ON PILOT SEASON: CYBLADE - NEWSARAMA

I'll tell you, for the first time in my career, I feel like I've truly arrived as a comic book writer. Sure, in my career up till today, I've been nominated for several awards, had books published by Random House, received checks for Work for Hire for Marvel and DC. I've even been given an ongoing series featuring a character who's over 40 years old and given free reign to develop her as I see fit. I've been called one of the best young writer's in comics, and given top marks by Entertainment Weekly, Variety, Wizard Magazine, USA Today, and virtually every other publication.

But, still, it wasn't real to me, until today.

Today I got my very first Newsarama thread attached to an interview filled with people who seem to want me dead.

http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=128997

I'm a real comic book writer now.

I'm going to call my mom and tell her.

While writing the Punks Christacular, I listened to this on repeat for an hour.

Christina's ready to kill me, I think.

See Kody and I give eerily similar answers to questions…

Blog@Newsarama » Fringe Benefits: Joshua Fialkov and Kody Chamberlain

What do you always have with you?JF: My pocket watch, cell phone, and a pen. That way I can know the time, check it’s right, and then write it down on my hand.

KC: I always have a pocket-sized ink pen. The worst thing in the world is needing to draw something and not having a pen handy.

See? It gets weirder.

Punks like, kinda on CBR

Comic Book Resources - CBR News: Fialkov Talks "Punks the Comic: Summer Special" See me say "Kind of" and "Like" aproximately ten million times in article form.

Woo!

Birthday Updates!

Birthday Updates from Fialkov -- PUNKS the COMIC Summer Special #1 Featuring 48 pages of Abe, Fist, Skull, and Dog fighting aliens (occassionally) and punching things in the balls (mostly) will be unleashed to finer comic stores everywhere on Wednesday, August 29th.  Been described by Warren Ellis as "One of the best singles of the year."  We've sent out PDF previews to several media outlets, but if you were somehow missed and would like to review/interview/fawn/despise us/it e-mail me back and we'll get you the PDF.

We're still working on organizing festivities to celebrate the book's release, but, we do know for sure that the first one will be at House of Secrets Comics in Burbank from 5 to 7 when I myself will dance the dance of "Thank the sweet lord Zekapraka the book finally came out."  It's... embarassing to say the least.  The dancing that is.  House of Secrets and more info about them can be found here: http://www.artoffiction.com/.

PUNKS was also featured in the first new issue of TRIPWIRE magazine with an exclusive three page never before paid for three page story (it's actually a reprint of the Free Comic Book Day story.)  The magazine is actually a great time, so, go and check it out at your finer comic and magazine retailers.

More info on PUNKS is of course available at http://www.punksthecomic.com  and if you forgot to order it, you can still place an order at your local comic shop using order #MAY07 3402.

By the by, there will be a Winter Solstice issue in Previews in a few months.  Keep your eyes peeled for PUNKS THE COMIC CHRISTACULAR SPECIAL #1.  The cover is up on my blog if you like that sort of thing.  http://www.joshuahalefialkov.com. -- Vampirella Quarterly is still humming nicely along.  The second issue of the series is out this week with multiple covers galore, and stunning art from Stephen Segovia.  This guy quite simply one of the best artists working today, so take a look now so that when he's making Batman explode The Joker you can say you knew him when.  More info on Vampi at www.vampirella.com

-- MARVEL COMICS PRESENTS has a story by me with art by Chris Moeller in one of the upcoming issues.  I think it's the one in next months Previews.  It's an Outlaw Kid story and it is so freakin' awesome.  Order number, etc., to follow once I have them.  Thanks to Andy and John for making my weird Marvel Western dreams come true! -- I also have a story in the GENE SIMMONS HOUSE OF HORROR #2 Horror anthology from IDW Publishing.  Drawn by the awesome Andy Kuhn, It's available for pre-order NOW with order #AUG07 3771

-- The FUTURE of GRAPHIC LITERATURE is a panel held at the Los Angeles Public Library's Central Library in Downtown L.A. at the end of September.  Scheduled to appear along with me, are Mark Waid (of well... y'know... everything), Ross RIchie (of Boom Studios), Christos Gage (of Marvel/Wildstorm fame), Kazu Kibuishi (of Flight), and Tony Fleecs (of In My Lifetime and a couple of cool unannounced projects),   It'll be a long form discussion of the future of comics by a bunch of people who not only work in it, but work in radically different aspects of the business.   We're still finalizing details, but it looks like there'll be a little 'mini-con' afterwards wherein we'll all sign and sell books.  A good time for all.

A press release, etc. will follow shortly. -- Of course, don't forget Elk's Run (available at finer book, comic, and online retailers), Postcards (also the same), and keep checking the blog for more news etc.

Thanks for reading,

j.

Postcards in USA Today

I'm still searching for a print copy, but, here's the review. New graphic novels straight from the drawing board - USATODAY.com

Postcards: True Stories That Never Happened Edited by Jason Rodriguez Villard, 160 pp., $21.95

Jason Rodriguez relishes a good story, even if it's just a fragment of one. For Postcards, he combed antique shops for thought-provoking cards, then passed them to comic-book writers and artists. The result is a mishmash of tales that blend tiny truths ("The new barn is up") with imagined details of lost loves, war heroes and forbidden desires. Highlights include Micah Farritor's beautiful illustrations with Joshua Hale Fialkov's story about Americans in France during the Great Depression and a crime-fighting scene written by Robert Tinnell and drawn by Brian Fraim. It's fascinating to see artists' take on, in Rodriguez's words, the "turn-of-the-century equivalent of modern-day text messages." — Matheson

My Desk

My Desk, originally uploaded by Joshua Hale Fialkov.

For the Flickr Deskset Group started by Matt Fraction. That's my 20" iMac with my 22" Samsung external playing the Daily Show. My TV with PS2 in the background. Wall art from clockwise from top left, Elk's Run Release Party banner, Hung Up production poster, Nate Bellegarde Hector Plasm, Postcards postcard, Scott Mills Martian Manhunter, Poorly Drawn Animals buttons, Pop Gun War print by Farel Dalrymple, Western Tales of Terror cover by Tony Moore, a Two Fisted Tales cover, a production still from my movie, some PDA art, and my favorite, a Stan Sankai Usagi print.

Tony Isabella on Elk’s Run

World Famous Comics >> Tony's Online Tips - Tony Isabella, Jul 10, 2007

Elk's Run

Mounting dread is the signature mood of the opening scenes of Elk's Run by Joshua Hale Failkov with artists Noel Tuazon and Scott A. Keating [Villard; $19.95] as we are introduced to the title "star" and quickly made aware things aren't quite right in that secluded hamlet. The war-scarred veterans who found it were looking to create an old-fashioned haven from the corrupt world without, but, through the manipulation of their fears and the betrayals of their leader, their dream has become a nightmare. Fittingly, it's a small group of teens - children, really - who embark upon a rite of passage that will change the town and their lives forever.

Fialkov eases us into the disturbing world of Elk's Run, but the first instances of violence in this 200-page graphic novel are relatively tame: a mother slapping a disrespectful son and an awful but not uncommon traffic fatality. It's in the second chapter that the magnitude of the town's wrongness is revealed. From there on in, the terror grows and doesn't stop until the story reaches its satisfying conclusion. With so many extended comics epics proving themselves unable to close the deal, it's great to come across one that finishes as strong as it begins.

Artists Tuazon and Keating hold up their end of the deal. The storytelling is solid throughout the GN. Their visuals convey the drama and emotion journey of the characters and the situations with which they are forced to deal. If this trio of creators have more books in them, I want to read them.

Ignore the puerile intro by Charlie Huston. It's an exercise, a mercifully brief exercise, in dropping the F-bomb for no reason. I accept such coarseness when it's part and parcel of a character in a story. I see small need for it outside the bounds of fiction, especially when one is the opening act for an exceptional work like Elk's Run.

Would you kiss your mother with that mouth?

Skip the introduction, but do read Elk's Run at your earliest opportunity. It earns the full five Tonys.

I believe that's printed in the current issue of Comic Buyer's Guide, which I decree you should go out and support.  They've been very supportive of my work over the years, and it's a pretty in depth look at comics today, written by some of the best and brightest in the business.

Thursday at Comic-Con

Come see me talk about Postcards and Elk's Run at Comic Con on Thursday.  I might even be wearing a new cowboy shirt.  There's also signings at their booth all weekend.  I'll let you know when shortly.

5:00-6:00 Random House: Flight/Postcards�Meet some of the most creative minds in graphic novels today, including Joshua Hale Fialkov (Elk�s Run), Kazu Kibuishi (Flight), Mike Knapp (Out of Picture), Vincent Nguyen (Out of Picture), Jason Rodriguez (Postcards: True Stories That Never Happened), as well as Villard editors Chris Schluep and Dallas Middaugh. Villard, an imprint that has positioned itself on the leading edge of popular culture, is quickly expanding its graphic novel offering with critically acclaimed anthologies and original content. Join these creators for a Q&A session and also hear the latest news from Villard. Room 10

Vote Smart. Vote Fialkov. Vote Fialkov Smart.

TOP COW'S PILOT PROGRAM - TALKING ABOUT PILOT SEASON - NEWSARAMA

NRAMA: Can you give us any hints on upcoming issues?

RL: Sure. The second month’s slate will be Cyblade by indie-star Joshua Hale Fialkov and the inimitable Rick Mays and Velocity by the insanely prolific Joe Casey and a guy I literally had to beg to work with me, Kevin Maguire. All of these guys are new to Top Cow, and they’re bringing killer stuff to the table.

Marvel Comics Presents

Friend and editor John Barber spills the beans which mark my return to the Western Genre, even if it's only for 8 pages. Newsarama Interviews John Barber on MCP

"Outlaw Kid by Josh Fialkov, who wrote Elk's Run and is one of the best up-and-coming writers in comics, with art by Chris Moeller who's just incredible and I've been a fan of for years…"

Longform Interview over at Newsarama

ELK'S RUN AND MORE WITH JOSHUA HALE FIALKOV - NEWSARAMA

NRAMA: Random House has been pushing Elk’s Run pretty hard, what is that a result of?JHF: They came to us about the book. It had a varied publishing past when we tried to do the issues. To various degrees of success, we went through two publishers before Random House. They came to us very early on and really expressed their commitment in trying to get the book under their label as a trade paperback.

I talk about my old jobs in TV, my movie, and a bunch of other stuff.

Sick Again

It's been a while since I've been ill. Christina was suffering from a long lasting flu that managed to avoid infecting me, only to have her be mostly well, and me get slammed in the face by it.  Well, hopefully it won't last too too much longer. Early reviews for Postcards have been coming in, and they're VERY good.  I'm really looking forward to you guys checking it out.  I also got comps of Princess Ressurrection Book #1 in, that's in stores pretty soon, and is also lots of fun, despite my marginal involvment, I'm still quite proud of it.

Also, my return to the genre bending western has just been cemented.  Got a new book in the works with an established publisher that's going to be a blast.  I'll keep y'all updated as it goes.

Now, If you'll excuse me, I'm going to lay down.

Round Robin

Alright, so, it's been a whirlwind couple of weeks, and I apologize for being off the radar.  Highlight and lowlights below.

• Punks is in Previews, and we're doing all kinds of press and stuff for that.  Keep your eyes open for it.
• Free Comic Book Day was a blast at The Comic Bug, and yet again I forgot to take pictures.  The Punks FCBD issue of Digital Webbing was gone before I could even grab a copy for myself.  It looks GOOOOOD tho.
• Just got hired on a couple of very cool jobs I can't really talk about, one is a big licensed property comic thing, one is a TV movie.  I just sent in an outline for Vampirella 4-6, so, here's hoping that the sales keep up, and that gets to come to fruition.  There's at least one other book that hasn't been announced, but it will be relatively soon, I think.
• Got engaged to the most wonderful girl in the world.
• Been wrestling with some major occular problems, leaving me semi-blind for days at a time.  It's still problematic (I try not to drive unless it's dire circumstances), but it seems to be improving considerably.
• Thanks to that, Three Rivers the webcomic has sort of fallen off schedule.  Yes, I've been having these problems for THAT long.   Noel's about two months ahead of what's posted, so once I get the next script turned into him, I'll probably begin to post them.  The actual submission was sent off to prospective publishers this week, so, here's hoping.
• Got two other creator owned books being developed right now.  Pages are in on the first one, and the second one is being completed as we speak.   One's a 50's Cops and Monsters book, the other is my tribute to gangsters and the 70's.  Hopefully have more on those shortly.  I'm also developing a bunch of comics with Screenwriting partner Mark Wheaton (he of The Messengers, Friday the 13th, etc. fame.) It looks like one of those might see publication relatively soon. We shall see though.

End of update.

Comic Book Bin on Punks

Q&A: Joshua Fialkov Talks Punks the Comic

CBB: If there is a selling point or something about the project that you want to get across to readers, what is it?

FIALKOV: It's funny, it's different, it's smart, it cures cancer*, it has laser blasting alien robots, and more head wound jokes per page than any other book on the stands**,

*Does not in fact cure cancer. **Not including Head Wound Joke Monthly

Newsarama on Vampi

BON ALIMAGNO ON VAMPIRELLA QUARTERLY - NEWSARAMA

NRAMA: Writing this is Joshua Hale Fialkov, best known for his work on Elk's Run and Western Tales of Terror. Why'd you seek him out to help you bring Vampirella back?BA: I'm always on the lookout for fresh voices and talent. I'd been in some contact with Joshua after Vampirella Comics Magazine reviewed his Western Tales series. It was very interesting to see someone act as a writer and editor on a horror anthology -- it demonstrated that he knew how horror -- good horror -- should work.

Out of curiosity I'd gotten issues of Elk's Run at my local comic shop and just enjoyed the hell out of them. It was a very different kind of comic than what was normally being put out there -- something very real and extra-ordinary at the same time. In the meantime he'd sent me some pitches and I was impressed with his ideas and take on Vampi. He has the kind of approach I'm always looking to bring to the character so when I was looking to start a new series I immediately thought of him.

Rest of the article at the link.

Elk’s Run Toronto Release Party!

The Beguiling presents: Industry Night @ The Vic Celebrating the release of Elk's Run with artist Noel Tuazon, and Nick Cardy: Comic Strips, with editor Sean Menard Thursday, April 26th at 7PM The Victory Cafe, 581 Markham Street (Near West of Bathurst and South of Bloor) FREE Elk’s Run: Nominated for seven Harvey Awards, this groundbreaking series has finally been collected by New York publishing entity Random House/Villard.

The town of Elk's Run's fanatical survivalist founders have sealed it off from the rest of the world, transforming it into a twisted hybrid of Mayberry and the Branch Davidian compound. When a fatal accident leads to a revenge lynching and a series of murders, the town's teenagers try to escape only to have their own parents hunt them down. The ensuing cat-and-mouse game involves a mine fire, a stockpile of napalm and a rash of terrorist plans.

In cooperation with Random House of Canada, artist Noel Tuazon will be on hand to discuss the genesis of Elk’s Run via an audo/visual presentation, and sign copies of this wonderful new collection.

"Damn fine comic making"

Brian Michael Bendis

"Really, really good"

Warren Ellis

--

Nick Cardy: Comic Strips: Nick Cardy has been a dynamic artistic force within the comic book industry for over 60 years. Beginning in 1939 with the Eisner/Iger shop through a number of important newspaper strips, a 25 year association with DC Comics and an extensive stint in advertising (TV Guide), magazines (Crazy, National Lampoon) and numerous movie posters (Star Wars, The Bad News Bears), 85 year old Nick Cardy continues to delight his ever-growing legion of fans with a multitude of commissions and special projects to this day.

While his work at DC has been often lauded, Cardy’s short, but bright career in newspaper strips has received minimal attention.

Nick Cardy: Comic Strips reviews Cardy’s entire strip catalogue beginning with Lady Luck (1942) through Batman (1972) and includes an archive of previously unpublished artwork. Frecklebean Press editor/publisher Sean Menard has put together the definitive look at Cardy’s diverse newspaper strip work including his refreshing interpretation of Tarzan.

--

Come on our and support local Toronto comic authors, network with illustrators, artists, and more, and maybe even have a pint or two.

- Chris @ The Beguiling

More info: http://www.beguiling.com/ 

Phillip Clark Interviews Me

Don’t Forget: Signing at the Comic Bug Tomorrow…

the comic bug . comSPIRITS OF INDEPENDENTS on APRIL 11th

Next Wednesday will be Independents Day at The Comic Bug! Six area artists will be signing comics and introducing themselves and their creations. The list of creators appearing from 11-1pm & 5-9pm

Christian Berenak - Se7en: Lust

Philip Clark - Quantum: Rock of Ages

Joshua Hale Fialkov - Elk’s Run

Tony Fleecs - In My Lifetime

Stormcrow Hayes - Afterlife

Omaha Perez - Holmes

Live local band from 8-9pm - Vaudeville

You’ll Never Guess What the Isotope Staff Is Reading This Week

Click here to find out. Thanks for the support gang, y'all are the best.