Take in the sights and visuals of Tokyo with music and sounds remixed by musician and video artist Kutiman.
Sights, Sounds and Music Thru Tokyo
October 23, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Halloween Android Mini Figure!
October 22, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Just in time for Halloween, check out this cool pumpkin-inspired Android mini-figure by artist Gary Ham.
Very Naughty Boys by Robert Sellers
October 22, 2013 by Leave a Comment
The 1980s decade of films were dominated by Hollywood blockbusters and sequels, but also during this time, from across the pond in Britain, a couple of films would make it’s way over, like the “Life of Brian”, “Time Bandits”, “Mona Lisa” and “The Missionary.” All these films was brought to film-goers by an unlikely friendship between a famous musician and Wall Street-type accountant/lawyer forming an independent film company. During the ten-year run, HandMade Films produced 23 films and made it’s own mark in British film history.
Bike Baron is my new Addiction
October 21, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Okay, I admit that I was hooked on Candy Crush Saga these past couple of months and became vain trying to get top scores! I’ll stop now and delete it from my iPhone. Now a new game I’m looking at is Bike Baron.
Kidrobot Dunny Evolved 2013
October 21, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Our Ramen team showed up for the Kidrobot Dunny Evolved release event at Kidrobot SF retail store. The vinyl collectible toy series features 5 artists: Huck Gee, Frank Kozik, Kronk, McBess and Scott Tolleson, and each artist created 3 different figures for the set.
New York Comic Con 2013 Teaser!
October 16, 2013 by Leave a Comment
I’m still jet lag after 3 days, our Ramen and a Half team had a great time in New York City and checking out New York Comic Con 2013 which took place this past weekend – October 10-13, 2013. Stay tuned to our Retrenders.com and our YouTube Channel for videos from NYCC 2013!
Kidbreakers from Japan: Kyushu Danji Jr
October 15, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Just when you think you’ve seen it all in breakdancing, we get to see something crazy and innovative by these kid breakers from Japan. They call themselves Kyushu Danji Jr and they look to take on the world!
Anno Dracula: Johnny Alucard by Kim Newman
October 10, 2013 by Leave a Comment
The trend in Hollywood, comics and print these days are stories with vampires. One popular series is by creator and award-winning author Kim Newman with his Anno Dracula character. Johnny Alucard is the fourth novel in this series and is set right after the third book, Anno Dracula: Dracula Cha Cha Cha.
The story kicks off in 1976 Romania countryside, where Franics Ford Coppola is shooting his epic Dracula film with Hollywood stars like Martin Sheen, Marlon Brando, Harvey Kitel and Harrison Ford. Our vampire vixen Kate Reed is on set as a consultant and from there, Kate and Coppola befriend a young vampire named Ion Popescu. After a couple of months, the trouble production is finished filming, Ion looks to America.
Once Upon A Time: Behind The Magic
October 8, 2013 by Leave a Comment
ABC’s hit fantasy drama Once Upon A Time 3rd season is underway, Titan Books releases a behind-the-scenes book for fans of the TV show. Thanks to Netflix, my Once Upon A Time all-night marathon of seasons 1 and 2 is all finished! Now I’m hyped for the new season.
Kidrobot Dunny Evolved
October 8, 2013 by Leave a Comment
On October 10, 2013 – Kidrobot launches Series 3 of Dunny Evolved 3″ vinyl toys. Each artist picked in this Dunny Evolved line-up created 3 dunny designs.
SPOTLIGHT: Central Valley Lowrider Car Show in Lindsay CA
October 6, 2013 by Leave a Comment
The Central Valley is well known for putting on the best of Lowrider Car shows and this one took place in Lindsay, California. Here you can meet the pioneer and founder of Lowrider Magazine himself, Sonny Madrid, and actor Danny De La Paz, who starred in films American Me and Boulevard Nights. His most recent film is “Kill Kapone“. I was only able to catch Danny as he was having a conversation with Lindsay’s Lowrider Car Show Promoter, Ruben Gonzalez.
The Lowrider Car Show proudly brought together a floor full of classic to modern Lowrider vehicles showcased at McDermont Field House & Sports Center in Lindsay, California. We talked to Sal Sierra about his 1936 Pick-up Truck along with a few other Lowrider and aficionados themselves: Roy Tolentino, Alfred & Mary Torrez, and Yoli Preciado. Even the Mayor of Lindsay, Ramona Padilla, had a few words to say about the car show.
Some of the car clubs that could be found at the show were: Lindsay’s Finest, Nuestro Pride, Nuestro Estilo, Rollerz Only, and Brown Effects.
FILMED: Short Doc / Magazine Style (Shot on the Fly)
Produced & Edited by Johnny Moreno.
I apologize for those that I was unable to film and interview. Telling everything about Lowriders definitely needs an in depth – present to historical visit about Lowrider culture and the people that are involved and making a difference. This video is simply a taste about the Lowrider world.
Viral Video Friday: The Mega Plush Part 1
October 4, 2013 by Leave a Comment
This is not family friendly The Care Bears, it’s The Mega Plush fighting evil in a dark city against chimps who call themselves the Society of Chimps (SOC). Four plush bears – Mega Bear, Mega Tiger, Mega Elephant and Mega Gorilla will dole out their vigilante justice.
Interview with Anno Dracula author Kim Newman
October 3, 2013 by 1 Comment
The fan favorite vampire series Anno Dracula returns! Author Kim Newman recently released his latest Anno Dracula novel – Johnny Alucard that takes place from 1976-1991. Retrenders interviews author Kim Newman about his new book – Johnny Alucard and what the future holds for this popular Dracula series.
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RTNDR: The universe of Anno Dracula and the characters you’ve created is very popular and many fans enjoy this series, so with this new book Johnny Alcuard, did you set out thinking, “Well, the fans might enjoy it if this character or that character goes through this plotline or this journey” or did you already have your own ideas and had everything mapped out?
KIM: I plot books – and, in this case, series – by a method known as ‘feeling your way in the dark’. I usually know where I’m going with a story but not the exact route I’ll get there. I hope readers enjoy where I take the characters (and them) but tend to think of what the story needs rather than what people want – indeed, sometimes you have to go against expectations or wishes. In this case, the book was written piecemeal over decades – the first chunk of it was done before the third novel in the series – and I always knew the spine was where a particular character went, though the details were developed during the composition and I think I surprised myself.
Sirens: The Pin-Up Art of David Wright
October 2, 2013 by 3 Comments
What comes to mind, when you think pin-up art from of the 1940s-1960s? Maybe model Bettie Page might pop in your head or paintings like the “Vargas Girls” by artist Alberto Vargas. How about David Wright? And NO, he’s not the Third Baseman from New York Mets baseball team! In the 20th Century, British artist Dave Wright was also right-up there with his American peers like Alberto Vargas and Gil Elvgren. World War II sparked the pin-up girl craze as David Wright created his “Lovelies.” Dave Wright’s pin-up girls was all over Britain, “a standard fixture on the walls of barrack rooms, officers’ messes, pubs and clubs” (Terry Parker, Sirens: The Pin-Up Art of David Wright).
Thrud The Barbarian by Carl Critchlow
October 2, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Is it He-Man? Conan the Barbarian! No, it’s not – it’s our wandering beer-guzzling warrior Thrud The Barbarian! Comic artist Carl Critchlow first unleashed his character Thrud as a college project, where it first appeared in a fanzine in the 1980s and then spawned a six-year comic strip run on Games Workshop’s “White Dwarf” magazine.
Interview with Sharky! author Dave Elliot
October 1, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Don’t know the name Dave Elliot? Well, he’s worked at DC, Marvel, 2000AD and Heavy Metal, just to name few places. Over 25 years in the comics scene, our Retrenders team catches up with Dave Elliot about his new Sharky! graphic novel published by Titan Comics.+++++++++++++++++++
RTNDR: You have worked with artist Alex Horley on many projects, what is the work relationship like when you guys do a project together? Is there much collaboration on story building and character designs?Dave Elliot: Both Alex and myself have very similar influences. Kirby, Frazetta and John Buscema are all at the top our lists. We have had enough of those fevered fanboy chats late into the evening that even before we started we both knew what the other wanted to do. For Sharky some of the character designs were set but Alex made them his own and then we built from there.
We wanted to do something that was a tribute to those creators as well, so in true Kirby style we wanted to come up with as many ideas as possible and then throw them in. I think after all the decompressed storytelling of the last 15-20 years Sharky must read like a roller coaster ride. I think we managed to get enough ideas for 20 comics in those original four issues.
RTNDR: As you mentioned in the Sharky! graphic novel a origin story of Gunmetal is coming, can we also get a story arc on Thor Stormhausen (Max to her friends)?
David Elliot: You’ll see Thor again in issue 256 of Heavy Metal this month. She makes a brief appearance with Sharky in a new Maximum Force story where Sharky tries to get Max Carnage to get back in the game and help him build a new team.
RTNDR: How about a kick-ass team-up of Thor Stormhausen and Vampirella?
Dave Elliot: That would be awesome and a lot of fun.
RTNDR: In Sharky! Volume 1: When Titans Clash! there are lots of special guests like Savage Dragon, The Mask, Madman and Wildstar. How did you come about grabbing these characters?
Dave Elliot: I knew all the creators so I just asked them for permission and they said yes. It was just a brief use and all for fun. Those creators got that. Sharky has since gotten to team back up with Mister Monster as well as meet El Zombo in Monster Massacre.
Automobile Drawings by Makoto Komori
October 1, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Japanese artist Makoto Komori is well known for his children’s illustration books and his Datto-san series is popular with kids in Japan. It’s kinda of like Pixar’s Cars, but with Komori’s own sense of style and flair.
Travel Boy Carry On Luggage
October 1, 2013 by 1 Comment
Travel in geek-style with this retro gaming inspired Travel Boy Carry On Luggage.
Kidrobot DamGun ‘Bots
September 29, 2013 by Leave a Comment
The Ramen crew visited Kidrobot SF for the release of the DamGun ‘Bots. If you’re a Gundam fan or just an anime mech-head, then you might like these ‘Bots. Kidrobot pays homage to these plastic snap-on model kits with their own DamGun ‘Bots.
Ramen Crew @ the Slide Your Ride’s 86 Festival 2013
September 26, 2013 by 3 Comments
Japan Only: Butt Pudding (Crayon Shin-Can)
September 26, 2013 by Leave a Comment
From the Japanese manga series by Yoshito Usui comes the Crayon Shin-Can butt-shaped edible pudding. The dessert kit comes with DIY instructions and when you’re done you can eat Shin-Can’s twerking butt.
The Big Wow! Comicfest Wrap-Up!
September 25, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Yes, it was a long weekend for the Ramen crew, but here is an “End-All” rundown on what “The Eddie” and Ramon have accomplished at Big Wow Comicfest. And not to mention, being a bit silly and fatigued from a long adventurous weekend.
Hosts: Eddie Ballar and Ramon Angel
Producer: Johnny Moreno
Executive Producer: Stephen Jang
Sharky! by Dave Elliot & Alex Horley
September 24, 2013 by Leave a Comment
I got a glimpse of the off-beat muscle-bound Sharky and his friends in the graphic novel anthology Monster Massacre Vol. 1, and now we get a full Sharky graphic novel from writer Dave Elliot and artist Alex Horley. Why does Tank Girl have to get all the crazy fun? Sharky gets in on the action too. If you’re looking for Shazam!, well this isn’t it bitches! This is Sharky!
From BIG WOW! Comicfest: Ivy Doomkitty, Cosplayers and we finally get our comics autographed by Stan Lee!
September 21, 2013 by Leave a Comment
The “Eddie” and Ramon have made it to the end of the line – sort of like coming to the end of the yellow brick road in the Wizard of Oz, but here at Big Wow! Comicfest, we’ve come to the end to meet Stan Lee!
We also get to talk to a couple more cosplayers, three girls promoting Castle Corsetry and a local comic artist, and we interview Ivy Doomkitty to find out about her role at Big Wow! Comicfest.
Sugar Series by Emily Blincoe
September 20, 2013 by Leave a Comment
It’s Friday and I want some darn sweets! Austin-based photographer Emily Blincoe arranges her sweets through the theme of rainbow colors. Her candy galore photographs are from her “Sugar Series.”
Johnny Moreno
Edward Ballar
GuestContributor
kellyannbrooke
Ramon Angel
Al Woo
SW biko
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