Threesome Art - 7/12/2011 - "Pinoy Pride"

Many of great Filipino komik artists have worked for big time companies like Marvel, DC, and Dark Horse who brought us the most memorable graphic novels and comic book series in recent memory.  And featured today are three awesome artworks from the best Filipino artists in today's comic book scene : Carlo Pagulayan, Kajo Baldisimo, and Leinil Francis Yu. 

Let's take a look:

Fantastic Four by Carlo Pagulayan

Carlo Pagulayan is known for his works for Marvel Comics, notably Emma Frost (#7-12) and Planet Hulk. And this image is one of his covers for Marvel Adventures Fantastic Four, which is perfectly painted to life. Love the lighting and the shadows he used to capture the team spirit of the FF, and will make you miss The Human Torch the longer you look at it. 

Good times, good times.

The Avengers by Kajo Baldisimo

I wonder why Kajo isn't doing any Avengers-titled comic book, because this poster he made is one for the money. It has the feel of a Stuart Immonen artwork yet it has his own original imprints on it. Notice the lighting he did here, crisp and clean lines, and the dynamic poses for each character that definitely kicks-ass. Not to mention Ms. Marvel's thingy right in your face. Perfect cheesecake. I would love seeing him work on The New Avengers someday.

Kajo is actually the artist for Trese, an all original Pinoy komik written by Budjette Tan that mixes gun-toting action with mystery based on Filipino folklore, that's nothing short but awesome. Go ahead and check it out @ tresekomix.blogspot.com.

Thor by Leinil Francis Yu

You know this guy I'm sure. He's the artist for some of the best graphic novels that I have read like Superior (with Mark Millar), Ultimate Wolverine vs Hulk, and Superman: Birthright (with Mark Waid). He also worked on Marvel's Secret Invasion and some issues of The New Avengers vol. 1, and is doing more for the "House of Ideas" with his Mexican-standoffy Ultimate Avengers vs New Ultimates series.

Leinil's "Pseudo-Dynamic" style is on full force in this Thor commission, and his signature use of lines and unique marker effects creates a very realistic version of the Thunder God. But the best part of this image is the hammer. Take a look at the lighting on that Mjolnir, and tell me that isn't something. Marvelous. 

That's all for now folks, but I'm sure to be back with another edition of the Threesome so stay tuned.

Preview Of Mark Millar & Leinil Yu's SuperCrooks

What if all the super-villains in America go to a place where there are no superheroes?

That's the basic premise of Mark Millar and Leinil Yu's upcoming project titled SuperCrooks - which bears similarities to the obvious concept of Kick-Ass.  Here's the a snippet of CBR's interview with Millar: 

"So a bunch of supervillains head for Spain for one last job, for a heist. And I love heist movies – I’ve always wanted to do a ‘men on a mission’ story with supervillains. So the idea is a bunch of super-villains get together to pull off one last job; the biggest job of their career."

The comic book will be set in Spain for a more exotic feel according to Millar, and from his description, SuperCrooks will be something like "The Italian Job" meets "Kick-Ass" meets "Superior" (mainly because one of the characters look like Tad Scott).  Here's some of the preview sketches from Yu (courtesy of CBR): 

This looks like another good comic book series, but hopefully Millar and Yu will be able to finish their pending projects first as soon as possible, mainly Superior - because after 4 issues and an insanely good monkey cliffhanger, we're all left hanging in the air waiting for any word on when the #5 will be released. 

I could say the same thing for Kick-Ass 2.

Head over the Comic Book Resources for the full interview.

 

Comic Book Review: Ultimate Wolverine vs Hulk

 Ultimate Wolverine vs Hulk

Writer: Damon Lindelof

Artist: Leinil Francis Yu 

Issues 6

Published by DC Comics 

Its one of those Marvel dream matches that you wanted to see. You know, the big angry green Hulk vs bigbad savage Logan aka Wolverine. One is as strong as he could possibly get when pissed off, and one is good at what he does best (and what he does is not really nice). When you put those two together, you're definitely in for some good 'ol ruckus and violence.

Ultimate Wolverine vs Hulk is set in Marvel universe's Ultimate Marvel imprint, where their classic characters are re-introduced to a new generation of comic book readers, especially to those who don't want to read the older stories, origins and all that. Of course, some of the characters are a little bit altered (like their origin stories and physical appearances), but that doesn't make it less fun.

 

Anyway, story goes as this: Dr. Bruce Banner, the lead scientist who was assigned by the American superspy group code-named S.H.I.E.L.D to re-create the super-soldier serum (the one that made sickly Steve Rogers into a enhanced super-soldier named Captain America in 1945) in order to create more super powered humans, went nuts (mainly because of jealousy) and injected himself of the serum and turned into the rampaging monster The Hulk - killing 800,000 people in New York City including innocent kids - until the newly formed superhero group The Ultimates , apprehended him.

To cut the story short, Banner was sentenced to death by the US Government and he gets blown off using a 1 billion megaton bomb... or so it seemed. General Nick Fury (leader of S.H.I.E.L.D and is Samuel L. Jackson), finding out that Bruce Banner is still alive, finds the most dangerous X-Man of them all - Wolverine, and tells him to assassinate Bruce Banner (and the Hulk at the same time).

Who's gonna win you say? We don't even need to debate about that. Cmon, a 20-foot green monster against a 5-foot mutant who's main weapon is his unbreakable Adamantium bones and claws... 

You might think Wolverine might just win because of his healing factor and all that... but think again. 

There's only one word to describe this: OUCH.

I gotta say, Wolverine's one tough SOB - with or without limbs

Not if Hulk is angry... and I mean real angry. 

Full of non-stop action and a little bit of humor, this 6-issue miniseries will surely entertain you 'till the last page. No kidding. I loved the quick paced story and  witty dialogue by David Lindeloff, the surprises, sexy chicks, the humor, and Wolverine's spirit panda (If you wanna know what in the blue hell a panda's got to do with Wolverine, just read the freaking  comic book).

Leinil Yu's art is fantastic as ever. I seriously love the guy's style, which he describes as "pseudo-dynamic-realism". His attention to detail has developed over the years and it definitely shows in this book. Awesome illustrative storytelling, paired with a clear and crisp style that no one in the business has today. The guy was born to draw... and in my opinion, he draws the most kick-ass Wolverine I have ever seen. Nobody  else comes close.

And if there is one thing that I learned from reading this comic - never ever piss the Hulk. Especially with  the name Betty Ross (Banner's ex-girlfriend) coming out of your mouth.

Yup. That's it.

Leinil Yu and Gerry Alanguilan on Superman: Birthright

I have been reading comics for a long time now, and i just came by and re-read Mark Waid's Superman: Birthright (2004) - another origin tale for our Man of Steel, meant to the be official origin story, but was replaced by Geoff Johns' Superman: Secret Origin (2009). I won't review these one shot origin tales because you all know how Superman came to be and they get pretty boring sometimes.

Anyway, i didn't notice not until a couple of weeks that the artists behind the wonderful artwork of this comic book are Filipinos! I'm not talking about half-baked ones, but full-blooded pinoys! How could I miss their names at the cover the book!? I had to google their names and I was totally surprised. I thought Pinoy comic book artists didn't try to draw popular characters, especially my favorite.

Leinil Francis Yu served as the main artist and sketcher for the whole book, while Gerry Alanguilan inked the former's work and brought vibrance and life to it, making a spectacular one-shot epic that is considered to be one of the best Superman origin stories of all time. 

And be sure to check out their deviantART pages by clicking on their names above or a dose of mouthwatering art. These guys are incredible.

So kudos to all Pinoy comic book artists! Mabuhay kayo! 

I'll be leaving you with some panels from Superman: Birthright.

 Cover-art (see their names at the right hand corner. 

i missed them the first time lol)

 The iconic shirt-rip shot!

 Yu and Alanguilan did a great job on reimagining this

iconic helicopter scene from Superman: The Movie (video)

 Superman, Lex Luthor and Lois Lane

.

Of course no Superman comic book will be complete 

without a panel with Lois and Clark.