Interview with SIX AM Comics

If you like old school video games, horror films, comics, humor and really cool artwork, then prepare to get AM-inated by the crew at Six AM Comics. Mark Marianelli, Kevin Letourneau and Daniel Griswold are the creatively talented trio that make up the company.

Q: Tell me a little bit about you and your role at Six AM Comics?

Mark: I do a lot of odd-jobs within the site, more specifically though, my role within the group is the head illustrator. I’m responsible for illustrating our featured webcomic, “Scholars”, as well as creating the majority of imagery around the website. For example, the page headers and any basic web design. On our Facebook page, we select people weekly (through various contests) to be “AM-inated”, in which we draw caricatures for them to use as Avatars. If you’ve had yourself drawn, it was me who did it.

Kevin: I serve as the Marketing Manager for Six AM Comics and help develop overall brand identity and strategy. I also contribute scripts and ideas for the development of new comics and games. I do a lot of social media strategy and creative consulting for clients as a freelance contractor, but my long-term goal has always been to get into the arena of developing intellectual property and franchises through interactive storytelling.

Daniel: I do a bit of everything from writing with Kevin on Scholars to making my own web-comic Honestly, which has a more random humor to it. Mark, Kevin and I go back quite a bit, and in High School we made a lot of video shorts based on my stupid ideas. We did obscure classics (to us) like “The French Director”, “The Mystical Green Face”, “Baby Demons”, and “Kung Fu-tage”. We all collaborated to make our longest running character “Refrigerator Man” – a man who sold his soul for the ability to move between any household appliance due to a need to escape from his tortured childhood. I like to think of myself as an idea guy, and when I have a cup of coffee and something to write or type on, I enjoy creating, drawing, laughing and hanging out to make stuff. That’s probably why we all get along so well – we’re all that way. That was a long answer, but to be a bit more professional, right now my role is Creative Support, making Honestly happen every Thursday, shooting game and Scholars ideas/scripts to support Mark and Kevin, and thinking up new ways to get people excited about Six AM like we are. Continue reading “Interview with SIX AM Comics” →

‘Smokin’ Joe Frazier 1944 – 2011

Who Says Fighting Solves Nothing?

My parents hadn’t met each other yet when Joe Frazier was the heavyweight champion of the world. Still, I felt a lot of sadness when news of his passing broke. I’m a casual boxing fan at best who enjoys the big mega fight on occasion. Watching Joe Frazier beat Muhammad Ali, via VHS, was a moment for me that validated the notion that ethnicity is not defined by public perception or stereotypes. In the days leading up to their encounter at the Garden, Ali hurled a plethora of racial insults that questioned how “black” Frazier really was. Ali was loud and flamboyant while Frazier was reserved but fierce. Fight night arrived on March 8, 1971 and ‘Smokin’ Joe did his talking in the ring.

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UFC 137 Preview and Predictions

The bright lights of the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino will play host to a UFC event where the injury curse has come in waves as the main event has been changed for the third time as BJ Penn and Nick Diaz will battle for welterweight supremacy.

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Can A Short Guy Be Darth Vader For Halloween?

Halloween is one of the few days of the year when I can unleash my inner child and take a break from that responsible adult thing. The costume I choose is the key ingredient in this endeavor. I have been everything from a clown to Freddy Krueger.

My goal has always been to be Darth Vader. The problem is I’m not exactly the tallest tree in the woods. Before we continue, yes, I know this is not a Star Wars blog. However, the first Star Wars comic book was published on March 8^th, 1977, 79 days before the first movie was released, so there’s your connection, and besides, it’s my blog.

Darth Vader is my favorite science fiction character. I’ve often wished for the ability to force choke someone and have extended my arm in many a failed attempt to levitate the remote control. Vader’s influence has profoundly impacted my life, and all I want to do is pay homage to the dark lord of the Sith.

I gravitate towards the Star Wars section at the costume shop, and I always try on the Darth Vader mask with the special breathing sound effects. My wife always says, “Just do it,” when it’s so obvious what I am contemplating as I wield a plastic lightsaber in the aisle in a dignified manner while a five-year-old wearing a Boba Fett helmet looks at me like I’m the weirdo.

Friends have suggested I dress up as Yoda if I’m apprehensive about the height disparity. Hold the phone. I’m not an AT-AT, but I’m not an Ewok either. Truth be told, I have no quarrel with Yoda, as he and my dog share the same name. The few extra pounds I carry nowadays would make me look more like Slimer than the Jedi master himself.

I could always say I’m dressed as Lord Helmet or, better yet, Vader’s second cousin, Dark Vader. Maybe I will just man up and say, ‘HELL YEAH, I’M DARTH VADER.” It all depends; can a short guy really pull it off?

My Spider Dichotomy

I hate spiders. I always have, and the thought of them makes my skin crawl. Living in the Halloween capital of the world doesn’t make it any easier because I spend my October nights walking by large mechanical spiders hanging on every window. I have secretly used a fax cover sheet to push one near a co-worker, so they would have to kill it instead of me.

Sometimes, I need my wife to kill them on sight. I know, I know, but in my defense, I would totally take out a mouse or a rat she needed me to, so I think we are even. One time, my friends tried to trick me into seeing the movie “Eight Legged Freaks” under the guise of seeing “Attack of the Clones” in a hilariously twisted attempt to cure me of my phobia.

For some reason, I enjoy Spider-Man comic books more than most. I think he has the coolest costume, and I daydream about web-slinging from skyscraper to skyscraper when I visit New York City. Of course, I prefer the comic-inspired web-shooters as opposed to the organic webbing in the movies.

I’ve been writing a weekly comic book column for two months now, and I have been very impressed with the Spider-Man books as of late. One, in particular, had a ton of giant spiders, and I almost couldn’t finish reading it, but I persevered. I just don’t understand how I can enjoy this character much, even though the insignia on his back makes me want to spray Raid on him.

I should probably turn in my man card after all of this. I don’t think I will ever truly discover why I find myself emotionally vested in this character derived from the very thing I simply can’t abide. Maybe this is normal, or maybe I’m a special kind of crazy. In the end, I may never know.

All Guts & No Glory For Roode.

wm14 — Austin wins WWF belt at Wrestlemania 14

Remember when Stone Cold Steve Austin went over on Shawn Michaels at Wrestlemania 14? I remember because I was at the Fleetcenter that night. Wrestling fans all over the world rejoiced because the Austin 3:16 era had arrived. Now, imagine if Shawn Michaels had won that match and Austin pinned Shawn in the rematch at the following months Unforgiven pay-per-view? Can’t picture it? Well, let me paint it for you. The revitalization that occurred in professional wrestling because of the Attitude era would have never materialized.

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Animal Man #1 Review

I finally read Animal Man #1. I often find Vertigo titles hard to read, so I held off on it. The book has generated a lot of hype, and many are calling it the best of The New DC 52.

The book starts with Buddy’s newspaper interview with “The Believer.” The piece highlights his life as a superhero, stuntman, and family man. It’s a text-heavy page, so it might be a turnoff. It’s not a critical read, but it might give you more appreciation or understanding of the character.

We then see Buddy at home preparing dinner with his wife, Ellen. His daughter, Maxine, wants a puppy, but Buddy says no because being so close to one animal for a long time might interfere with his powers.

He hates that he has to disappoint her, but he would rather err on the side of caution. Ellen wants to know if he will get paid for a movie project he is involved in. Cliff, his son, runs downstairs to tell Buddy about a man with a gun holding people hostage inside a hospital, and Buddy decides it’s time for Animal Man to swing back into action.

I would not want to see Travel Forman’s artwork in a Superman comic book, but it is perfect for this type of story. Jeff Lemire’s script is very well written, and he knows how to convey a character’s depth to the reader.

Bottom line, it’s good but just not my cup of tea. I need a little more action and adventure in my comics. I recommend Animal Man to anyone who is a fan of good writing and is looking for something different.

WWE releases four wrestlers, another quits

The big news of the day is the WWE released four superstars while another quits the company.

Melina: She was in the dog house for her Twitter comments about Trish Stratus “taking her spot” at Wrestlemania 27. Guess what? It’s not your spot. Wrestlemania pay days do not come with time well served unless your name is Undertaker or HBK. 90 days form now we will see her on Impact. She will be lost in the shuffle like everyone.

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Superman: Earth One Review

Superman Earth One is a contemporary re-imagining of the last son of Krypton’s journey to become the man of steel. Clark Kent arrives in Metropolis with the purpose of finding his way into the world while finding a job so he can support his widowed mother. These days, most people have a tough time getting a job. Clark’s problem is the opposite. He can land any job he wants and be the best in the world at it while making a lot of money. Continue reading “Superman: Earth One Review” →

Can Averno help Sin Cara save face?

Hell is coming to the WWE in the form of the Luchador named Averno. He is being brought in to work with Sin Cara because he is not getting over. The two have had lots of great matches together in Mexico and Averno is considered to be Sin Cara’s best opponent. Averno is going to finish up with CMLL in June in a mask vs. mask match with La Mascara. It nice to see the company work with someone instead of giving up on them, however, I question if this is the best idea.

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