Heavy Metal

WHAT'S ON MY BRAIN: August 30, 2004 Has it really been nearly a month since I last posted a "What's On" update?! KEE-rist where does the time go? Don't even talk to me about the message boards--I haven't gotten there properly in so long there's probably dust covering my "username!" I have been really straight out though, many, many cool things going on--and with that said I'll tell you about a few of them… The neatest of which is Joe Pearson and I have signed on to produce a animated version of the "Highlander" with Imagi Studios in Hong Kong, and Mad House Productions in Japan. Mad House, in case you're not familiar with the name, produced killer "Anime" films, like "Ninja Scroll," "Vampire Hunter D," "Tokyo Godfathers" and two segments of "Animatrix" to name only a few. Really quite a dream come true to be working with them. Right now we're in development, and with luck the picture will be green lit for production in November. I'll keep you posted for sure. I'm also working on a rewrite of the "Fistfull of Blood" screenplay we're trying to get made into a live action film, and have just finished a 50 page treatment for an animated movie called "Lost Angeles" with my buddy Joe Pearson. It's based on an idea for a video game I did with Simon Bisley called "Geomatrix" and we'll be taking it out for pitches right after Labor day. There's a couple dozen other things I'm writing, drawing, or making notes on as well, but I'll save those for future "What's On" updates--right now I want to tell you about the gallery show we did on the 15th of August. It was the first "Art of Heavy Metal" show, and was at the Echo Gallery in beautiful downtown Chicago! I mentioned it in previous updates, and links from the home page, and it was a blast! We had about 15 Heavy Metal artist contribute, and Lorenzo Sperlonga and I flew out from LA for the opening. The gallery is owned by Derek and Veronika, two of the nicest folks you'll ever meet, and we hope to make it a regular thing. If you want to check out photos from the opening click here, and I'll be posting a bunch I took next week. For my photos this week, I wanted to show a bunch more from the fun and maddness of San Diego, I know Tess and some of the other gang from the message boards that made it to the show have been posting links from the forums, but here's a few more of my memories.
This one if of a wonderful young lady who had a copy of the first printing of the TMNT's for me to sign! Man, I rarely see those these days, but I guess at a huge show like the San Diego Con, that is where one would be seen.
Here's me licking my good friend Phil Yeh! He's the best, a great artist, and spends his time flying all over the world doing charity work, mainly using comics to get kids to READ! Top shelf dude in my book!
The next image is of me and Derek from the Echo Gallery I mentioned above. We always have a blast with them at the show, and am always thrilled to have them hanging out at the Heavy Metal booth.
More of my favorite people--the lovely Veronika in the middle (She'll be in the November issue of Playboy by the way!), artist Gil Bruvel on the left (check out his artwork from the links section of the site), and my good buddy Lorenzo on the right.
Booth mates and Heavy Metal cover regulars, Alex Horley and Stacey E. Walker. Stacey has been painted on to more Heavy Metal covers than any other models, and always a treat to have at the booth.
The man, the legend, the reason the company runs as good as it does, (and the only sane one at the booth)--ladies and gentlemen, Howard Jurofsky! We love ya Howie!
Next up is my "posse!" These guys and gals are serious, very serious TMNT fans, and always come to the con in full costume! God bless them! I always make time to do a breakfast with them each year, for fun and photos! You rule gang!
I have got to get me one of these outfits! The "Flaming Carrot" has always been one of my favorite comics, and I dare to call it's creator Bob Burden a friend! Bob and I go way back, and have spent many a convention tearing it up since the late 80's. The "Carrot" is going to be featured in a special issue of Heavy Metal magazine in early 2005. Can't wait.
Now this guy is a GENIUS! Lloyd Kaufman of Troma Films!!! I love Lloyd, I love Troma, and am thrilled to have even acted (sorta) in a bunch of their films! The latest one is shipping in October, it's called "Julie Strain's Tales from the Crapper" and is a complete fucking hoot! There's a Troma link in the Heavy Metal Links section, so go check them out if you're not savvy already.
Last BUTT not least, and a great photo to wrap up this weeks installment of "What's On"--this ones, for the ladies--(drum roll)--Simon Bisley's BUTT! Okay, that's it for me, I'm off to the message boards (seriously, honestly, no joking…sorta) and I'll be back next week with more goofy shit! Thanks gang, talk to you soon! KEVIN EASTMAN