|Bum’s Rush #100 Supplemental –

The Stars Come Out

To add to the celebration that is the 100th Bum’s Rush column I decided to invite some of the coolest cats in comics to stop by and discuss what they’re working on, what projects they have coming up in the future and what books they love to read every month. My most heartfelt thanks goes out to each and every one of these folks for helping to make the already momentous Bum’s Rush #100 even more spectacular.

Paul: So guys, what projects are you currently working on?

Brad Walker:  I've chipped in a few pages on the last two issues of Manhunter. I drew the covers of Action Comics #848, and 849, and I'm drawing a Superman related limited series that will be a lot of fun, that people should be happy to see, and that I think will ship later this year. But I'm not allowed mention any more than that...:)

Dean Trippe:  Right now I'm doing some character designs and the coloring for an upcoming project with Ed Brisson, a ten-page preview for General Jinjur's new character, Stray, and trying to get caught up on my commissions.

Freddie Williams:  Robin #164, Fill in for Blue Beetle #15 and then on to the next Robin.

Becky Cloonan:  American Virgin keeps me busy on the monthly front with Vertigo, and I've got East Coast Rising volume 2, an OGN published through Tokyopop in the mix as well. I'm also working on a short story for the upcoming Meathaus anthology.

Frazer Irving:  Currently drawing Silent War for Marvel, and also doing art for the early stages of GUTSVILLE which is due to be released from Image in May.

Eric Powell:  The Chinatown graphic novel and Goon #19

Staz Johnson:  Currently doing a few covers for Marvel

Dean Haspiel:  I'm currently illustrating Jonathan Ames' THE ALCOHOLIC for Vertigo, while clipping away at my free weekly web-comic, FEAR, MY DEAR, at www.ACT-I-VATE.com

Todd Nauck:  Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man and Teen Titans Go.

Cal Slayton:  Well, David Hopkins and I are shopping around "The Last Babysitter", hopefully that will get picked up.

Kristian Donaldson:  I'm working on Fallen Angel for IDW. A two-issue arc with Japanese gangsters, hot girls breathing fire, and a guy being beaten with his own arm.

Jo Chen:  I'm hard at work on Buffy the Vampire Slayer series for Dark Horse, Runaways for Marvel and some XBOX game packaging.

Benito Cereno:  As of this minute, I'm working on a new Hector Plasm story that will be appearing in an anthology series later in the year. Also in that same anthology will be a couple of new Tales from the Bully Pulpit stories, including a rumored crossover/team-up story. And for the first time in a while, work seems to be actually progressing on the official Bully Pulpit sequel, Legend of the Black Maria.

Jay Faerber:  Dynamo 5 and Noble Causes, both monthly from Image.

Ryan Ottley:  Invincible ALL the time.

Sean McKeever:  Countdown, Can't Tell, Not Allowed to Say, and They Will Kill Me If I Tell You.

 Jamal Igle:  Currently working on my fourth issue of Nightwing (Issue # 133)

Tyler Kirkham:  New Avengers/Transformers


Paul: What are your favorite books right now?

Brad Walker:  Well, I've been a big Captain America fan, lately, but we'll have to see how it goes in coming months...LOL. I love the Superman books and Wonder Woman right now, slow as they may be. I love 52. The Doctor Strange limited series that just finished was great. I love Daredevil, Manhunter, She-Hulk, Catwoman, Green Lantern, Y: the Last Man, the Atom, Criminal...and probably a bunch of others, but that's what I've got off the top of my head.

Dean Trippe:  The mainstream books I'm digging are All-Star Superman, Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane, The New Avengers: Illuminati, and Darwyn Cooke's new The Spirit series.

Freddie Williams:  Invincible, All Star Batman and Robin (whenever it comes out) Outsiders

Becky Cloonan:  I'm really enjoying Marvel's Illuminati series, and I'm hungrily awaiting the next BPRD series. I also loves me some Conan every month!

Frazer Irving:  Well I just got into the Immortal Iron Fist, and I pick up Ex Machina is trade form as soon as it comes out. Astonishing X-Men is pretty engaging and I like newuniversal too, but I don't get to read many comics these days:)

Eric Powell:  I have no idea what's coming out right now. I live in a cave.

Staz Johnson:  I haven't read a comic for a couple of years, so I can't really say... although I hear they killed off Capt America, I'd like to see how that pans out.

Dean Haspiel:  THE SPIRIT, CRIMINAL, THE EXTERMINATORS, DAREDEVIL, Y - THE LAST MAN, ALL-STAR SUPERMAN, THE WALKING DEAD, DMZ, GIRLS, ASTONISHING X-MEN, BLADE, THE PIRATES OF CONEY ISLAND, and SHAZAM, to name a few.

Todd Nauck:  Invincible, Noble Causes, 52.

Cal Slayton:  I don't read a lot of regular comic runs, I usually buy trades of stuff that look good. But I love The Goon and Hellboy.

Kristian Donaldson:  Pirates of Coney Island, Casanova, DMZ, Ash Wood's "Son's of Liberty", Pride of Baghdad, and Nextwave.

Jo Chen:  Runaways, of course. I'm sure the Buffy books will be great since Joss is writing them, but I've not had a chance to read them yet. And of course, Osamu Tezuka's Phoenix and Black Jack series never go out of favor in my house.

Benito Cereno:  Oh, lots. Books I most look forward to are Jack Staff by Paul Grist, Castle Waiting by Linda Medley, Gumby by Bob Burden and Rick Geary, All Star Superman, The Spirit, Jeff Smith's Captain Marvel, Irredeemable Ant-Man, The Exterminators, Invincible.

Jay Faerber:  Invincible, Daredevil, Captain America, Ex Machina, Y - The Last Man, Ultimate Spider-Man, and Runaways.

Ryan Ottley:  Nextwave...well it was my fave.

Sean McKeever:  Captain America, All-New Atom, Daredevil, Welcome to Tranquility, Optic Nerve, Iron Fist, and JSA, among others.

Jamal Igle:  Ex Machina, Superman, Action Comics, Buffy the vampire Slayer, Punisher War journal, Captain America, NextWave, Blue Beetle, Birds of Prey.

Tyler Kirkham:  Civil War, Top Cow books, X-Men, a few others.


Paul: And finally, what projects do you have in the pipeline?

Brad Walker:  Other than what I said above, I can't say...Sorry...

Dean Trippe:  I'm in talks with Oni on a possible GN, and a book publisher on a possible Butterfly GN series for kids, and I've got a couple of pitches for Marvel, but you never know with this stuff until it's time. Haha.

Freddie Williams:  Other then Robin full time, I am willing and able to take anything DC hands my way. I would love to do covers for Robin, any other fill-in issues or even crossovers with other books.

Becky Cloonan:  Vasilis Lolos and I will be publishing a follow up to our Nebuli mini comic from last year, and I'm also self-publishing a book collecting a bunch of my old mini comics. Hopefully both of these will be out in time for MOCCA in June, but if not they'll definitely be ready for San Diego.

Frazer Irving:  Well once Silent War wraps up in May I'll be doing Gutsville for a while longer as well as taking on the art duties of Button Man book 4 for British Mag 2000AD.

Eric Powell:  Three-issue run on Action Comics and more Goon stuff.

Staz Johnson: More work on the online comic for the Heroes TV show.

Dean Haspiel:  I've illustrated some new stories for Harvey Pekar's next AMERICAN SPLENDOR mini-series coming from Vertigo in September, and I adapted R. L. Stein's GOOSEBUMPS: "Revenge of the Lawn Gnomes" into comix form that will appear in Scholastic Graphix third GOOSEBUMPS anthology, SCARY SUMMER, due July.

Todd Nauck:  More Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man and Teen Titans Go. I also have an issue of Wonder Man (#4) coming out next week, March 21st. And I'm planning to get another WildGuard one-shot out this year.

Cal Slayton:  I have a few ideas in my head that I may try to write myself. I just really have loose storylines that I need to flesh out. But I'm not a writer so it may take a bit. One is finally doing a Spookytown, one is a crime story and the other is more of a hero type thing.

Kristian Donaldson:  another issue of DMZ for Vertigo, and then a creator owned mini called "Anarchist Love Song".

Jo Chen:  I've got something coming up for Dynamic Forces, and both the Italian and English versions of my old manga, The Other Side of the Mirror, due out.

Benito Cereno:  I have a short story with Cory Walker that will be appearing in The Tick 20th Anniversary Special in April from NEC. Other than that, Nate Bellegarde is working with me once again, this time on a character we didn't create, about which I cannot say more. But that's still a ways from completion. Other projects include eating some frozen egg rolls and doing laundry.

Jay Faerber:  That is a closely guarded secret...

Ryan Ottley:  Invincible ALL the time! Wouldn't have it any other way.

Sean McKeever:  A painted one-shot for Marvel, five more issues of Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane, one more awesome issue of Spider-Man Family with Kano featuring Spidey vs. Venom, a story in Tim Seeley's Troma anthology, all the stuff above, and probably another surprise or two.

Jamal Igle:  Nightwing at the moment, but stay tuned.

Tyler Kirkham: Only time will tell, hopefully Downfall.

Paul: Ouch, I can already see the money flying out of my wallet! Thanks again for taking the time, you kings of comicdom!

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