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Today at AiT/Planet Lar

April 17, 2008
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"In a world where it seems as if every comic ever made has had their movie rights optioned, the lack of news about a future Astronauts in Trouble movie feels more and more like a failure on Hollywood's part," writes Graeme McMillan in "Steal This Pitch" over at io9.com... "Larry Young's trilogy of books - is much less space opera than space rock'n'roll, three books in a shared universe concentrating on the simple thrills of adventure, space travel and good old-fashioned storytelling."

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Greg Burgas takes a look at Holmes: "The fun of the book is much more in watching Holmes and Watson get into outlandish situations. Holmes shows up in drag, wanders around for a few pages with a syringe sticking out his neck, visits a prostitute (and then interrupts Watson, who is enjoying himself with two women), digs a public grave for someone who isn’t dead, and has an unexpected confrontation with his foe on a bridge. It’s extremely iconoclastic, irreverent, and very funny. Its success does rest a lot on the fact that this is Holmes and Watson, but if you have any knowledge of Conan Doyle’s originals, this is a fine read."

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One of the things I like about Holmes is that it fits so well into the polarizing books that we do; ya love 'em or hate 'em. Johnny B is horrified at what Omaha did to The World's Greatest Detective: "When it comes to Holmes stories, Seven Per Cent Solution notwithstanding, I prefer my Sherlock cool, calm, and Basil Rathbone collected. This isn't terrible, but this revisionist Holmes thing has been done better, and more skillfully- with more restraint, that is- in the past."

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...on the other hand, if you think Sherlock Holmes needs the stuffing taken out of him, like Lisa Fary of PinkRaygun.com does, this is the link for you. "I’ve always thought Sherlock Holmes was a tool, and finally someone is overtly showing him as such. Thank you, Omaha Perez... We expect Sherlock Holmes to be an ass, but we expect him to be so very refined about it. It’s about time that arrogant bastard got his comeuppance."

April 16, 2008
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I had a blast talking with Chris Marshall on his Collected Comics Library Podcast. We covered a lot of ground: the history of the company, lathered up Matt Fraction, talked about True Story Swear to God, and rapped about our kids and conventions and our upcoming comics. We did this interview last week, which is why I didn't mention Matt Silady's Eisner nod... because it hadn't happened yet.

Make sure to check out the CCL main page for lots more data, info, and cool links.

April 15, 2008
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Omaha Perez' latest, Holmes, from Jog the Blog: "The high concept of this one, collecting Perez's self-published pamphlet miniseries, is that the famous detective is totally off his fucking face on mind-altering stuff for most of his waking time, a comedic exaggeration of habits present in the Doyle originals."

April 14, 2008
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Our pal Ian Brill interviews Shannon Denton on Aces, our upcoming Red Baron story: "Manfred Albrecht Freiherr von Richthofen, the Red Baron, was the most successful flying ace of World War I, being officially credited with 80 confirmed air combat victories. Richthofen was a member of an aristocratic family with many famous relatives so I always find it fascinating when people of privilege give that lifestyle up for these lives of adventure or for service to a good other than themselves. He was genius fighter pilot at the dawn of that era of flight. Not only was he a skilled pilot but he was also known to be a man of integrity. He did what his country asked of him but he was also known to show mercy in the skies and really lived up to that old time ideal of honor amongst fellow soldiers, even if sometimes they were the enemy. He also fought Snoopy."

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...and big congrats to Matt Silady, notching himself an Eisner nod for Special Recognition his first time out eligible for the Oscar of Comics.

April 13, 2008
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Walker Young: "Hey, check it out; my Daddy worked with your Daddy to publish his graphic novel. Lookin' good, Mister Man!"

Malcolm Amado: "Yes, sir! My Daddy wrote Nobody, STAR code 11475. Walking Dead's Charlie Adlard on art, Whiteout's Greg Rucka doing an introduction. Brian Wood cover, and everything! ABC Family televison pilot, lotsa cool stuff. If I could read, I'd probably think it was pretty cool, too!

Walker Young: Don't worry, M-dawg! You'll dig it, baby, You'll dig it the most.

Find any AiT/Planet Lar publication at your nearest comic store.

Can't find it at your local retailer? Get it online at Khepri.com