FEMME NOIR creator's new comic

[C_Mills]

Hello all,

I have a new comic book in this month's Diamond Distributor's PREVIEWS catalog. It's on page 331, under "Rorschach Entertainment," and it's called GRAVEDIGGER: THE SCAVENGERS.

http://www.supernaturalcrime.com/Art/GD_bothB.jpg

GRAVEDIGGER is a hard-boiled crime comic that should appeal to fans of FEMME NOIR or SIN CITY. It can still be pre-ordered from your local comics dealer - and if you have any interest in picking it up, your best bet is to pre-order it, otherwise your shop probably won't carry it at all.

The book is, surprisingly, getting some good online press.

Bill Baker of World Famous Comics has an interview posted today at:

http://www.worldfamouscomics.com/bakersdozen/

Blair Marnell over at Silver Bullet Comics, also interviewed me for his All The Rage column this week:

http://www.silverbulletcomicbooks.com/rage/index1.htm

And the boys over at The Fourth Rail appear to be looking forward to it:

http://www.thefourthrail.com/features/0904/downthelineseptember.shtml

If you dig FEMME NOIR, I hope you'll at least check this out. If it doesn't sell well, there may not be a FEMME NOIR miniseries next year. For more info on the book, you can visit the official GRAVEDIGGER site at: http://www.gravediggercomic.com

Thanks!

[China_Town]

How did you get started with the Comic Book industry? Do you have like a team of artists and stuff? Me and my friend, who doesn't live near me, are planning on a Comic industry, a whole new line of comics, kinda like Marvel and stuff. Since you have experience, whats the best way to get started with this stuff? Cuz me and him have some great ideas.

[TomHarrington]

</font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />
Me and my friend, who doesn't live near me, are planning on a Comic industry, a whole new line of comics, kinda like Marvel and stuff. Since you have experience, whats the best way to get started with this stuff? Cuz me and him have some great ideas.

[/ QUOTE ]

Really? Maybe you should tell Ryall about your comic ideas. He’s not just Editor-in-Chief of the Poop Shoot; he’s also President of the Hair Club for Men. Also, though, he has some kind of connection to a comic publisher. He like knows someone who’s brother’s best friend is an acquaintance of someone else that works for a publisher. Or something.

But really, if you’re looking for feedback you should drop him a line and tell him about your ideas. In addition to being the Big Cheese here at the Shoot, Ryall is the Editor-in-Chief of IDW Publishing.

[China_Town]

Sweet, how do I contact him? Like what shis e-mail and stuff? The comic ideas me and my friend have are huge. We already have about 30 characters...planned out..

You kick ass dude

[TomHarrington]

</font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />
Sweet, how do I contact him?

[/ QUOTE ]

Bring a couple of scented candles (he prefers loganberry) and a jar of pickled eggs to any cemetery between the hours of midnight and 4:00 a.m. Then just wait, patiently, and he will show.

Or, you know, you could just send him an email.

[TLS]

Dude, you are too funny.

[Dave]

Chris, You can count on me checking out your stuff. it looks good. I'm really digging the left cover, with the Lee Marvin looking guy on it.
RIP Lee, you were the manliest of all movie actors.

[C_Mills]

If you check out some of those links, you'll see some sample art from the interior of the book. While Rick didn't photo-reference Marvin, he certainly had him in mind.

Great stuff. I love Rick's work on this.

[China_Town]

Dude the comics look tight. Good work.

[Dave]

when does Gravedigger come out? It should be this month right?

[DangerSeeker]

Hits stores 11/24, should be no delays. Arrived at the warehouse on time.

[Dave]

Sweet, i have put this on my pull list, but the "what are you talking about" look the girl gave me when i added it leaves me wondering if i'll get it.

[DangerSeeker]

What store?

[Dave]

Well, my wife and I affectionately refer to it as, "the Dork Store". But it's the one i usually go to on Wednesdays to spend about 6 bucks on comics.

[janice]

who is FEMME NOIR i never hear of her before /forums/images/icons/confused.gif

[jjcourtright]

Femme Noir (http://www.mp-shoot.com/noir/index.html)

[DangerSeeker]

I meant which one in particular, but fair enough. I have ways of verifying who ordered what, sort of.

[jjcourtright]

You mean to tell me that "the Dork Store" isn't specific enough for you? Slacker.

[janice]

why am i ignorant u dont even know me all
i only asked asked a question
so tell me i wanna know

[karmattack]

You know, the moment you figure out that he didn't really call you ignorant, you'll realize that you actually ARE.

[freetoaster]

janice, it's just his signature like your "jm". "JJ" is actually part of the "poop-shoots" welcome wagon.

[jjcourtright]

...and I do a damn fine [censored] job, too.

[TomHarrington]

</font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />
so tell me i wanna know

[/ QUOTE ]

Janice, you wanna know.
http://www.midatlantic.net/8x10/leslie-nielsen.jpg

[karmattack]

Oooooooooh, so simple, and yet......I wish I'd been wearing a diaper.

[wheels office chair to bathroom]

[TomHarrington]

Thanks. /forums/images/icons/smile.gif You're a fan of Airplane humor, too? I should've linked a head shot of Leslie Nielsen under the text, huh?

[karmattack]

Surely, it would have been appreciated.

http://www.midatlantic.net/8x10/leslie-nielsen.jpg

[Dave]

I, of course, had no idea that you wanted a "real" response, but it's called, Cap't Comics and i believe it's in Hoover, AL which is a suburb of Birmingham.
Not only is it filled with Dorks, but they are all dressed as pirates.

http://research.amnh.org/users/leighty/pirate.jpg
Yarrrrr!!!!

[DangerSeeker]

Hmm, Bob likes supporting the indy stuff, but I don't recall him mentioning this one. Nice guy, though. I'd double check next time you go in, make sure it was ordered. Ships soon.

[ozchick]

It was appreciated Karma, and don't call me Shirley. /forums/images/icons/grin.gif

[ratm1966]

Finally, someone came back with the right response. I can't believe it took as long as it did. For a minute there, I thought I was gonna have to say it.

[ozchick]

haha.. I was thinking it must be a setup - why hadn't someone already responded? But I went in anyway! /forums/images/icons/grin.gif

[ratm1966]

I read his post and had a very hard time keeping myself from responding right away. I wanted to make sure no one else had come back with the appropriate response first.

[janice]

ha no not funny

[Dave]

</font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />
Hmm, Bob likes supporting the indy stuff, but I don't recall him mentioning this one. Nice guy, though. I'd double check next time you go in, make sure it was ordered. Ships soon.


[/ QUOTE ]

Well Bob didn't take the order, it was the girl at the counter (who could either be his wife/his daughter/his cousin, or no relation at all). I placed the order for that and Atomika's Kieth Giffen book at the same time, but i didn't have a previews order number, just title, author and publisher. I assumed that would be enough. Maybe i'll call them today and see if did indeed order it.

How is it that you know a shop owner in B'ham AL?

Dave

[karmattack]

</font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />
ha no not funny

[/ QUOTE ] I'm sorry. I speak English, Spanish, and French....but I'm a little rusty on my Dingleberry.

A little help here?

[DangerSeeker]

I work at Diamond. My job revolves around toys. I'm the happiest little boy ever.

If it helps:
SEP042851 - Gravedigger #1
SEP042415 - Hero Squared Special #1

[janice]

wanna know what

[karmattack]

If you say your job is anything like Tom Hanks' in Big, you will be found and destroyed in an urban game of handball.

[Dave]

No shit. well that seems like a pretty cool gig.

[DangerSeeker]

Not quite that fun, but I do talk to comic stores all day about toys, statues, comics, and whatever else comes up. What's cool, besides the discount, is being involved in an industry I'm genuinely into, seeing how it works, how stores operate, etc.

[C_Mills]

This thread got weird.

Anyway, the book hits stores tomorrow. If you didn't pre-order it, chances are your store owner didn't either, but all is not lost. In a week or two, it'll be available for order online, direct from the publisher at:

http://www.rorschachentertainment.com

Thanks to everybody who picks it up.

There are two great reviews of it now up at The Fourth Rail:

http://www.thefourthrail.com

Sorry about the lack of Femme Noir updates - my life has gone crazy. First it was hurricanes, then a long illness, and now I'm moving. But I assure you all that there will be new strips soon, and they'll be appearing much more regularly in the months to come.

Thanks for the support!

[Dave]

Oh Chris, you should know by now that we never stay on topic.

Well heres hoping that you move to a spot where you won't be dodging hurricanes and such. Hope the mover's don't loose your manuscripts.

Good Luck,
Dave

[Matthew]

</font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />
but I'm a little rusty on my Dingleberry.

[/ QUOTE ]

Well, this particular dialect seems to originate from the ancient Nowipee tribe.

[janice]

sorry but i didnt ask you what languages you speak

[C_Mills]

Two more great GRAVEDIGGER reviews:

Alan David Doane at Comic Book Galaxy (http://www.comicbookgalaxy.com/120104_ADDQH_review.html)

and Andrea Speed at Comixtreme. (http://www.comixtreme.com/forums/showthread.php?s=f6a074e8b0ab3c5a6c7a020eebe1037a&amp; threadid=14229)

If you want to buy a copy online, Rorschach Entertainment (http://www.rorschachentertainment.com) will happily sell you a copy at a discount!

[Razorback]

Thanks, Chris.

[mari_jane]

I think you so called comic is a piece of sh*t the altament comic is in fat Squee. It rocks the pants of from any comic you can throw at it.

[mari_jane]

dude you sont acutaly like that star wars crap do you

[Razorback]

Here comes the ban stick... time to get rid of a useless moron.

You don't actually think that skateboarding makes you cool, do you?

[Mighty_Wingman]

</font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />
dude you sont acutaly like that star wars crap do you

[/ QUOTE ]

Did anyone else just hear the sound of a death warrant getting signed ? It was subtle, but I swear I heard it.

[Dave]

</font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />
I think you so called comic is a piece of sh*t the altament comic is in fat Squee. It rocks the pants of from any comic you can throw at it.

[/ QUOTE ]

Can someone translate this for me? i have tried to figure out what this moron is saying, but i just can't figure it out.

As i suspected the Dork Store did not order me a copy as i asked them too. So now i have a tough choice to make. Do i use this incident as the "last straw" and leave my shop for a rival across town? or do i stay where i'm at.

[ratm1966]

</font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />
I think you so called comic is a piece of sh*t the altament comic is in fat Squee. It rocks the pants of from any comic you can throw at it.

[/ QUOTE ]

I will give it a try....I think he was saying...
I think your so called comic is a piece of shit. The ultimate comic is in 'Fat Squee'. (Now this is where I had to do some searching. Squee is a four issue comic book series from SLG Publishing. It also contains reprints from the popular Jhonny the Homicidal Maniac series that didn't appear in the JTHM: Director's Cut book.)

Now on with the translation......
It rocks the pants off of any comic you can throw at it.

[towelie99]

You're way too good at this. It's almost frightening.

[DangerSeeker]

And another here. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Cool art, cool twists, and nice references. El Rey indeed...

[ratm1966]

Thanks.

Not that I agree with the dumbass' comments mind you. I like Mills' work.

[Dave]

Well, i see that Gravedigger is still getting good reviews, i wish my store hadn't missed my order. i suppose i'll have to purchase one from the website.

Review Here (http://chud.com/thor/909)

[DangerSeeker]

They may still be able to pick some up on reorder.

[C_Mills]

</font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />
They may still be able to pick some up on reorder.

[/ QUOTE ]

Sure they can. But you have to convince them to make the effort. Often retailers will pass even ona sure sale if they're feeling lazy.

Chris

[C_Mills]

http://www.supernaturalcrime.com/Art/xmas_dix.jpg

You can still order your copy of GRAVEDIGGER: THE SCAVENGERS by Christopher Mills &amp; Rick Burchett directly from the Rorschach Entertainment Online Store (http://www.rorschachentertainment.com/shop/index.php) at a significant discount! Don't miss out on one of the best-reviewed indy comics of the year:

"Chris Mills and Rick Burchett have created an instant crime comic classic. Briskly told with all best aspects of a pulp story presented with panache and the proper measure of meaness. I love this comic!"
– Chuck Dixon
Writer: Detective Comics, Richard Dragon, Nightwing, El Cazador

"With any luck, we'll see more stories in this vein from these two in the future, but even if we don't, Gravedigger: The Scavengers stands out as an achievement to be proud of. 8/10"
– Randy Lander
The Fourth Rail

"First-rate hard-boiled caper comic much in the spirit of His Name is...Savage, Sleeper and Catwoman: Selina's Big Score. Mills delivers a note-perfect script full of treachery and double-dealing, and Burchett's gritty Pop Noir stylings puts him in the same class with Darwyn Cooke and Sean Phillips. The only complaint I have about this issue is that it's a one-shot -- I'd love to see more of this, now, please..."
– Alan David Doane
Comic Book Galaxy

"This is what new readers of comics are going to turn out for, the kind of entertainment they enjoy in movies and TV. Mills drives us through his paperback underworld at breakneck speed, and gives Burchett the raw-knuckled story he was born to do. I hope this team stays committed to a life of CRIME!!"
– Jeff Parker
Writer/Artist: The Interman

"...a deliciously noir crime story..."
– Don McPherson
The Fourth Rail

"'Gravedigger' McCrae claims this is his last job, but for the sake of crime fans – I hope it's not. Mills &amp; Burchett have put together a fantastic noir comic, and it would be a crime if they stopped here."
– Jay Faerber
Writer: Dodge's Bullets, Noble Causes, The Hat Squad

"Gravedigger: The Scavengers is the great lost film Lee Marvin coulda (and shoulda) done – straight up hard stuff, no chaser. It may go down easy, but it packs a punch like a set of bloody brass knuckles. Let's hope Mills and Burchett serve up another round of murder and mayhem real soon."
–Kevin Burton Smith
January Magazine Rap Sheet

"The one-shot Gravedigger: The Scavengers from Christopher Mills with pencils and inks by Rick Burchett is a beaut. Crisply rendered with deft thick-and-thin lines, dramatically composed panels and page layouts (bound sideways), toned various grays (by Mills), and with a Lee Marvin look-alike in the lead. A brutal, amoral tale but expertly done."
– R.C. Harvey
Comics Historian and Critic

"...well-developed story--dark gritty, filled with crime and other nastiness--well done! Written well and portrayed superbly by the characters...cut and dry, boy meets girl, boy wins girl, girl shoots boy, etc.--you know how it goes. Descriptive and explicit. A good job all around."
– Jordin
Webcomics Book Club

"McCrae is a heartless bastard who only barely qualifies as even an anti-hero. There are a couple of things that redeem him, though. First is the fact that (at least in this story) everyone he’s fighting against is just as crooked and dirty as he is. That prevents him from being completely despicable. The second thing is his resiliency. The plot is full of violent double- and triple-crosses, but McCrae somehow manages to foil every attempt to put him away. He’s got his eye on the prize and nothing will stop him from reaching it. As morally bankrupt as McCrae is, there’s a kind of nobility to him that causes us to root for him anyway."
– Michael May
Comic World News

"A gripping, gritty, tight little film noir-inspired tale featuring a Lee Marvin look-alike who delivers hardboiled narration that rivals the best Bogart films. A classic "one last heist" yarn where everyone is secretly scheming against everyone else and, of course, everything goes wrong."
– The Phantom Critic
Webcomics Book Club

"... this tale by writer Christopher Mills is no mere crime comic! This is a summer Hollywood blockbuster put to paper!"
– "Fan Man"
The ComicFanatic.com

Chris