LATEST NEWS
TheWarlord.ca - The Great Warlord Fan Site!
22 June 2008
"Welcome to Mike Grell's The Warlord, a DC comic book series which ran for 133 issues from 1975 until 1989. The character returned in 1992 for a six-issue mini series, and in 2006 for a series which lasted 10 issues ... In a March 2008 Word Balloon podcast interview Grell is quoted as saying, "I'm working on a DC proposal for a new Warlord story... we'll see."
Click here
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[Podcast] Hardcore Nerdity talks Iron Man with Mike
19 June 2008
"This week Rob Salem, Simon and I discuss Iron Man, the upcoming Avengers spinoff films, and we speak with Iron Man comic writers Mike Grell, Bob Layton, and Dave Michelinie."
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BIRTH [updated with photos]
11 June 2008
Giada Morgan Grell was born shortly after 1:00pm, gracing the world at a mere 9lb 12oz (YOUCH!), 21" long and a full head of curly brown hair. Father, TRAVIS (I named THE WARLORD - TRAVIS MORGAN - after him, not the other way around), and mother, JENNIFER (I had nothing to do with that, but who am I to question Fate?), are justifiably proud.
As am I.
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[Audio; Photos] Toronto Con MEN OF IRON Panel
12 May 2008
Men of Iron Panel featuring Bob Layton, David Michelinie and Mike Grell moderated by Blake Bell; crystal clear audio of the panel here, along with pictures...
Click here
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[Podcast] Word Ballon with John Siuntres interviews Mike Grell
20 April 2008
"In this episode of the Word Balloon podcast, host John Siuntres presents a career spanning conversation with one of the great stars of the Bronze age, who still draws amazing work today ..."
Full article here
Direct link to Podcast here
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"I spent the night with Mike Grell" -- an article, by Kar-El
15 April 2008
"TORONTO COMICON SATURDAY APRIL 12 2008
Oh, behave. It's not what you think -- at least it's not what I think you think. My longstanding, long-distance like-affair -- with another woman's husband -- was reaffirmed this past weekend at Toronto Comicon ..."
Full article here
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TAKING A STAND
18 March 2008
IN THE WAKE OF THE MURDER CONVICTION OF PITTSBURGH COMICON ORGANIZER MICHAEL GEORGE, I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM A FAN REQUESTING THAT I CANCEL MY APPEARANCE AT NEXT MONTH'S SHOW ON THE GROUNDS THAT "IT WOULD BE MORALLY WRONG TO ATTEND A SHOW THAT BENEFITS A WIFE MURDERER".
MICHAEL GEORGE IS STARING AT LIFE IN PRISON WITHOUT CHANCE OF PAROLE, LEAVING HIS FAMILY TO BEAR THE BURDEN OF HIS ACTIONS. HIS SECOND WIFE, RENE, IS LEFT TO RUN THE SHOW AND TRY TO MAKE THE BEST OF A BAD SITUATION FOR THE SAKE OF HER FAMILY. REGARDLESS OF AN AFFAIR WITH A MAN SHE LATER MARRIED, SHE HAS NEVER BEEN IMPLICATED IN OR ACCUSED OF ANY INVOLVEMENT IN THE MURDER. SO, HOW CAN IT POSSIBLY BE MORALLY RIGHT TO PUNISH THE INNOCENT ALONG WITH THE GUILTY?
MICHAEL GEORGE IS NOT GOING TO BENEFIT FROM THIS SHOW - HIS RENT, FOOD AND WARDROBE WILL BE SUPPLIED BY THE STATE FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE - BUT HIS FAMILY MIGHT BE ABLE TO PAY OFF A FEW LEGAL BILLS, AND THAT'S THE LEAST OF THE BURDEN THEY MUST NOW BEAR. THEY'RE INNOCENT BYSTANDERS CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE AND YOU CAN BE ASSURED THAT THEIR LIVES HAVE BEEN DEVASTATED BY THIS.
IN ADDITION, THE PITTSBURGH COMICON RAISES TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS EVERY YEAR FOR "MAKE A WISH" AND THE COMICBOOK LEGAL DEFENSE FUND. SO, ASK YOURSELF: WHAT GOOD COMES FROM A BOYCOTT? NONE THAT I CAN SEE. WHO LOSES? JUST ABOUT EVERYONE. WHO IS PUNISHED? NOT MICHAEL GEORGE - HIS PUNISHMENT IS BEING DEALT OUT BY THE STATE OF MICHIGAN - SO, THAT LEAVES ONLY HIS FAMILY.
LET ME JUST STEP ASIDE WHILE YOU CAST THAT FIRST STONE.
I ONLY MET MICHAEL GEORGE A COUPLE OF TIMES AND DIDN'T REALLY KNOW THE MAN. I MADE A COMMITMENT NOT JUST TO THE PITTSBURGH COMICON, BUT TO THE DEALERS AND FANS. MY RESPONSIBILITY TO UPHOLD THAT COMMITMENT HASN'T CHANGED.
LET'S LET SOME GOOD COME OUT OF THIS.
"THERE WERE GIANTS IN THE EARTH IN THOSE DAYS..."
11 March 2008
I was lucky enough to have known one.
I first met DAVE STEVENS when he was doing THE ROCKETEER as a backup feature in STARSLAYER. Dave spent his life doing what he loved - his passion for airplanes and pinup girls and the Golden Age of comics came through in every line he ever put on paper, and THE ROCKETEER quickly eclipsed the lead feature. The movie version is still one of my all-time favorites, because it, like the comic, was written for guys like me who remember the glory days when heroes were still heroes and comics were fun.
A couple of years later, I was making a store appearance and a young girl came with her parents to have a copy of STARSLAYER with THE ROCKETEER backup autographed. As I signed it, she asked, "Do you know Dave Stevens?"
I said, "Yes, I do."
"What's he like?" she asked.
"Well," I said, "he's way too tall and way too handsome and way too talented... and he's one of the nicest guys you'd ever want to meet."
"Oh, good!" she said, beaming a smile. "'Cause he's my big brother."
You might think I had dodged a bullet, but I was only telling the truth and her – and her parents – obvious pride was completely understandable.
I'm deeply saddened to learn that DAVE STEVENS has passed away from complications of leukemia at the age of 52. He was admired by his fans, respected by his fellow artists and loved by his family.
You can't ask for much better than that.
Mike Grell's ACTION #861 Variant Cover -- Courtesy of Newsarama.com
10 January 2008
All New JON SABLE: ASHES OF EDEN online at ComicMix.com
2 December 2007
Now available, read the All-New JON SABLE: ASHES OF EDEN graphic novel online at ComicMix.com.
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A CHRISTMAS YARN
1 December 2007
(Image compliments of artworkworld.com.)
By the time I turned 6, I was starting to get the hang of this Christmas thing. See, there's way more to it than a fat guy breaking into your house while your unsuspecting family is sound asleep. Gradually, my fear of Santa Claus was fading in the glow of that wonderful word that starts with a capital "G": Greed!
Math has always been a poor subject for me, but I had just discovered that Santa Claus = toys + candy. When word went out that Santa Claus was coming to town, my brothers and I were ready.
We followed Santa around town to every place he appeared, stalking him relentlessly as he listened to Christmas wishes and handed out candy canes the size of a Louisville Slugger. After consuming about ten feet of candy cane, I lost my fear of Santa Claus and my taste for peppermint all in the same day.
Christmas Greed comes naturally to kids. They start you off with the arrival of the Sears Catalog. It wasn't called The Wish Book for nothing. It came somewhere just after Labor Day, in plenty of time for us to drive Mom and Dad nuts with our pestering and pleading as we compiled lists that rivaled The Twelve Days of Christmas. But Grandma had a saying: "Wish in one hand and spit in the other and see which one fills up the fastest." Grandma cleaned it up for us kids.
There was a Wish Book ritual based on tradition passed on from child to child without adult instruction, as if some ancestral memory was at work dating from the time when cave men sat around drawing what they wanted on the walls - fur coats were a popular item, even then. The kids all sat on the davenport ("sofa" was something rich folks owned – it had the distinction of not turning into a spare bed when cousins came to visit. Imagine the luxury of a piece of furniture just for sitting!); Bob, the oldest, sat in the middle with Dick, a year younger, and me, trailing the pack by a four-year gap, sitting on either side. The oldest kid always had control of the Wish Book, partly because of seniority and partly because he could survive the frenzy that followed.
As the pages were turned one by one, you had a brief moment to scan the items and make your selection. The first one to slam his finger down on the toy and yell, "I GET THIS!" had sole claim to that item... at least until the next go-round. If you were last, you wound up with junk. You learned to make fast decisions and get the heck out of the way. Trust me, after going through the Wish Book fifty times, you knew what was coming up on the next page and exactly where the picture was located. That's how Christmas shopping became a blood sport.
I'm sure it comes as no surprise that my choices tended toward cap guns of all shapes and sizes. I noticed my brothers found several items of interest on the lingerie pages; I guess they had their own ideas of what constitutes a stocking stuffer.
The Wish Book experience serves us well in later life. Not many years ago, I was in a small store and happened to notice a small, indescribably ugly blob of plastic that was supposed to be some sort of modern art paper weight. Picking it up, I asked the clerk, "Sell a lot of these, do you?"
Without batting an eyelash, she shot back, "You'd be amazed what men will buy at six o'clock on Christmas Eve."
No, I wouldn't lady. We trained for it.
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
New ACTION COMICS 861 Cover Art
31 October 2007
THIS IS THE ACTION COMICS #861 VARIANT COVER "SUPERMAN AND THE LEGION OF SUPERHEROES" PART 4 I JUST DID FOR DC. -- MIKE
MIKE GRELL & MARK RYAN ANNOUNCE NEW GRAPHIC NOVEL "THE PILGRIM" AT COMIC-CON INTERNATIONAL
27 July 2007
The Modern-Day Thriller is Based on True Events of Paranormal Espionage from World War II
San Diego, CA - July 27, 2007: Veteran comic book creators Mike Grell and Mark Ryan announced today at Comic-Con International they are reuniting to produce a graphic novel called The Pilgrim, based on historical events of psychic espionage during World War II. The modern-day story is adapted from a screenplay written by Ryan (Transformers, The Prestige), which will be illustrated by Grell (Green Arrow, Ironman, Batman.) Ryan and Grell originally worked together in 1991 to develop the 50th Anniversary Edition of the comic-book Green Arrow for DC Comics. The team expects to build a strong following for The Pilgrim and plans to also develop it into a theatrical release.
Ryan, who has a military background, was inspired to write The Pilgrim upon learning about the use of psychics during World War II by Allied forces to infiltrate Nazi Germany. According to Ryan, "The Pilgrim is inspired by true events during World War II, yet it's a modern-day story that intertwines characters with paranormal abilities used to tap into terrorists' attack schemes to aide the military. It's been a labor of love, fifteen years in the making."
Grell, known for his distinctive and highly detailed depictions of story adaptations, had this to add, "From the first time Mark told me the story of THE PILGRIM, I've been pestering him to write it just so I could read it. Getting the chance to illustrate it is a bonus. This is a story that would give Stephen King the willies and I'm very excited to be part of bringing it to life. And it is, you know... alive, I mean."
The Pilgrim will be developed as a graphic novel with an adult format. The team believes the story will appeal to fans of dark comics as well as sci-fi and horror. They are in negotiations for publication and will announce distribution details for The Pilgrim shortly. Ryan and Grell announced the new project at Comic-Con International, the world's largest comic book event.
# # #
Media Contacts:
Adrienne Borgstrom
Starfish P.R.
C: 310-977-9535
adrienne@starfish-pr.com
Angela Moore
Starfish P.R.
C: 310-429-8868
angela@starfish-pr.com
Mark Ryan and Mike Grell writing graphic novel
11 May 2007
Mark Ryan writes on his web site, "I'm now looking at a couple of film projects for the summer and I'm also working on a new writing project with old pal Mike Grell for a new online graphic-novel publishing venture. I really do enjoy working with Mike who's a prolific and unique talent and we're hoping to get something announced and movie by the summer."
BIG NEWS: New JON SABLE graphic novel and Mike Grell sings!
4 May 2007
In part 1 of the new comicmix.com video podcast, Grell editor Mike Gold announces an all-new JON SABLE which "will be published as a graphic novel next year [and] will be seen before that". Also, Mike Grell ... sings? Watch it here.
New JON SABLE Cover Art
25 April 2007
THIS IS A NEW COVER FOR THE IDW SABLE TPB #8. THE ORIGINAL VERSION IS GOING TO BE USED ON A DIFFERENT VOLUME. LAYOUT AND PENCIL VERSION ARE FOR SALE @ CATSKILL COMICS. -- MIKE
I JUST LEARNED THAT MARSHALL ROGERS PASSED AWAY THIS WEEKEND
26 March 2007
I'M SORRY TO SAY I DIDN'T KNOW MARSHALL WELL, BUT I ALWAYS ENJOYED HIS COMPANY AND LOVED HIS ART. LIKE SO MANY GUYS ON OUR BUSINESS, OUR MEETINGS WERE NEARLY ALWAYS AT SOME CONVENTION IN A STRANGE CITY, WHERE FRIENDS-WHO-SHOULD-HAVE-BEEN GOT TOGETHER AFTER-HOURS AND TRIED TO PACK A YEAR OR TWO OF CATCHING UP INTO A COUPLE OF HOURS. I REMEMBER RUNNING INTO MARSHALL IN DETROIT, SOMEWHERE IN THE LAST CENTURY - HE HAD A PORTFOLIO OF PRINTS THAT WERE BETTER THAN ANYTHING HE EVER DID AT DC, AS IF HE HAD BEEN HOLDING SOMETHING SPECIAL IN RESERVE. HE HAD GREAT TALENT AND EVEN GREATER POTENTIAL THAT, SADLY, WILL REMAIN ONLY PARTIALLY REALIZED.
OUR LOSS.
New Green Arrow Illustration
19 March 2007
THIS IS A GREEN ARROW ILLUSTRATION FOR THE COVER OF THE PITTSBURGH COMIC CONVENTION BOOKLET.
THE ORIGINAL PAINTING WILL BE AUCTIONED AT THE CONVENTION FOR CHARITY. THE PAINTING WILL ALSO BE FEATURED ON THE DVD OF THE CURRENT SEASON OF "SMALLVILLE". THE B&W ORIGINAL VERSION IS FOR SALE AT CATSKILL COMICS.
Pop Thought: These are the comics that should be collected
4 March 2007
"There are few better candidates for collecting than the series GREEN ARROW of the late 1980s. Why? Simply that Green Arrow was a previously mainstream comic character that under the writing hand of Mike Grell took on greater maturity and intelligence."
New Commissioned Art
11 February 2007
THE KADE COVER WAS FOR ARCANA PRESS - THEIR ISSUE ON THE DEATH OF EZRA. ALL THE REST ARE COMMISSIONS DONE THROUGH CATSKILL COMICS.
OF SPECIAL INTEREST IS "CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON" - MY ALLTIME FAVORITE AND AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A CLIENT REQUESTS SOMETHING THAT REALLY SPARKS MY IMAGINATION.
KADE Cover
Creature From The Black Lagoon, Zorro
Deja Thoris, and John Carter Warlord of Mars
Flash Gordon, Hawkman
Human Torch, V for Vendetta
Solomon Kane
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