The Concrete World

No new pages this month… What can I say… It’s summer break! We’re out at the beach, watching movies, eating BBQ, and just plain relaxing! Okay, not really. Summer break for us means I’m still hunched over a computer somewhere and Jetti is drawing like mad somewhere else…

We decided to take August off for The Concrete World, to give ourselves a chance to catch up on things, refresh ourselves for the next chapters of CW and to overall let our brains try and recover from the mush they have become.

We hope everyone has been enjoying The Concrete World so far. I can assure you we have absolutely enjoyed making it and are super excited of what’s to come. We are about a quarter into the story. Which means three more quarters of exciting fear-of-the-future-fiction for you.

Sera, Paulie and Felix will spiral even further downward into their tech addictions, and when the law finally catches up to them… well, you’ll see, things get crazy.

As a special treat for everyone who has been so great about logging in on the 2nd Tuesday of the month to read our book, our friend and fellow Manga and Comic Book Illustrator Jose Macasocol, Jr. has done a guest pinup of our characters.
Thanks a lot Joe! We didn’t want readers to be left without something new and fun when they logged on today! For more of Joe’s work click here. And also let us know if you would like to submit art for The Concrete World. You can reach us at theconcreteworld@gmail.com

Enjoy the rest of your summer everyone! And thanks! New Pages up in September!

If you were anywhere near San Diego during Comic Con, you know all about a little film coming out later this year called TRON: Legacy. Heck, if you were anywhere near, anyone who had been there you probably know about TRON: Legacy. The promotion for this movie is as exciting as the movie itself. And the toys, which were displayed at Comic Con look to be just as exciting. I can’t wait to get my hands on some of the figures! I took some pictures for all you folks who couldn’t make it. Start saving your cash… you’re gonna want one of everything.

A 3 3/4 Light Cycle Toy! Looks like the figure fits nicely on it.

One of the larger high-concept figures that has a moving digital projection of the actors face coming from inside the faceplate of the helmet.

A second one. I think these will be expensive to try and collect, but one would be a great addition to any fan-boy’s shelf.

Another awesome Light Cycle for the 3 3/4 size figures.

The 3 3/4 figures themselves. Yes, they light up! I am very excited about these as they will be affordable to collect! (and they are in scale with the original toys from the first film)

TRON+KUBRICKS+DAFT PUNK= AWESOMENESS!!!!! Attention everyone I know, this is on my Xmas list.

An awesome promo from the Flynn’s Arcade at Comic Con, yes, a coin purse and tokens from Flynn’s Arcade.

My coworker barely escaping a Recognizer!

I was lucky to exit reality the last few days to attend San Diego Comic Con 2010.

What a giant.

I met so many fantastic people this year and had such a good time, I just don’t know where to start. It’s a melancholy ride home this morning. I’m exhausted from working the floor of the convention, running around trying to see all the marvels of modern popculture on display. I not only met other creators, people behind video games, movies, TV shows, comics, photos, books, costumes, toys but I also met the fans of such. It’s been fantastic and I find myself in no hurry to get back to reality.

At night, rather peaceful isn’t it?

Highlights of the convention this year… wow, where do I start? Finding out the guys creating stuff like the Venture Bros and The Tick are as down to earth and chill as I wanted them to be. Finding midnight Taiko drummers in a warehouse party far far away from the gross frat-party-like-commercialism which is the Gaslamp Quarter. Actually getting to go to meetings, and meet-ups for creators, instead of just being a creator trying to peddle my wares from a lonely table surrounded by thousands on the floor. Actually being in the right place and the right time to get some exclusive toys for my friends who couldn’t get to the convention. Getting my hands on Eternia Moss Man deodorant from the folks at Mattel. Meeting tons of crazy horror movie fans and watching them enjoy the hell out of themselves in a Polite in Public photobooth I was partly responsible for bringing to them. Drinks and meals with loved ones after a really hard days work. Realizing that one way or another, with the gift of time, I am taking my place in this community and knowing that I am slowly securing my place in the creative world. And finally… Watching the surfers catch waves on the coast during the cloudy train ride back home.

An Awesome Hasbro display of the Hoth Base from The Empire Strikes Back

It can be frustrating in the crazy, adrenaline fueled, sensory overloaded, raging waters of human traffic at the con. Each isle is a violent river current of people and bodies you just can’t cross. You get bumped, pushed, knocked, nudged, violated. As a person running a booth, for hours all you can see are hands reaching out, like zombies for flesh, wanting free shit. But still for some reason, you walk away having really enjoyed the experience.

More from the Hasbro Hoth Base, yes Chewbacca is welding!

Watching Hollywoodland come in, corrupt, cash in on, hype and change the atmosphere of the convention has been a surreal experience to itself over the last few years. I can’t complain about it. I wouldn’t be there myself if it hadn’t turned into such a media event. I think that’s truly what it is now. A media event. Media Con just doesn’t have the same ring as Comic Con does it? But that’s what it is for better or worse, good or bad. I do hope, that many of the guys drawing and inking their dreams and worlds, do get to cross over. I hope I get to cross over myself. To get to play with bigger budgets and different tools; from pen and pencil, to actors, film cameras, animation and production. I think those that embrace, and understand the changes of the event (and industry) can still do well… heck, can do even better than those before. But it’s a tough road, a raging river (just like the isles of people) that will need to be cleverly navigated.

It has taken years for me to get a routine down, and get to a place in a company where I could truly make the most of Comic Con. And I am thankful I have. This so far, has been the best time I’ve had at one of these behemoth gatherings.
I met so many amazing people this year and I got to see firsthand that my ideas do work… I think those are the things I am really going to take away from SDCC 2010.

Enjoy the pictures!
Also, I’ve put some SDCC 2010 tattoo pics up at the official Motor City Comic site.

I noticed tons of girls taking over the roles of Marvel heroes this year. You don’t hear me complaining.

Female Hawkeye

Female Punisher

Psylocke

I thought these AIM soldiers were awesome!

Zatana from DC

This Rebel is ready to take on the Empire… and the Gaslamp.

And although The Concrete World is a Cyberpunk comic… you know we love some good Steampunk. These being my absolute favorite two Steampunk outfits of the weekend.

A Steampunk Wheelchair!

Mechanized Steampunk Twins

Last night I went to the theater to see the new Christopher Nolan film INCEPTION. I really have to give props to the man. He somehow snuck a true piece of science fiction in front of mainstream summer blockbuster audiences this weekend.

There are many elements in the film that we play with in this comic The Concrete World. There were actually a couple of scenes that were very similar in theme, thought, and science fiction concept, yet were totally original to themselves.

Normally I freak out a bit when I see something in an big film, or project that is way more established than what I am working on. But all I could do with Inception is be even further inspired. The film works on so many levels, and challenges the viewer to keep up (along with the characters) to everything that is unfolding within the high concept story.
It was set in a near future, but ever so subtle. It could have been the future, it could be today, it really didn’t matter. It was told in a timeless fashion. Superb!

The tech, was inspiring and also similar to that in this comic.

The “Dream Machine” from Inception.

The DREAMtech deck from The Concrete World.

But as said, similar in thought and vibe only. Inception is a truly original and inspired film. And I’m confident that fans of it, might find something they would like in The Concrete World.

It was a surreal experience sitting in the Nokia Theater along with a thousand plus Macross Frontier fans to watch the performance Megumi Nakajima and May’N (The real life voices behind Ranka and Sheryl in Macross Frontier) It was a great show (especially for free!) and the special guest Yoko Kanno was a real treat. Her Piano performance along with Megumi Nakajima of Ranka’s song from Frontier was very touching.

The two starlets Megumi Nakajima and May’N… yes I had to sneak that.

I wish I could have provided you with better pictures of the event. Unfortunately, the theater or promoters had no concept of what decade it is, and heavily banned the use of camera’s, camera phones, or picture taking. Seriously, they had a fanboy-otaku-convention-gestapo-volunteer army patrolling the aisles ready to boot anyone taking a picture. It was RIDICULOUS. In an internet social network world where they could have had thousands of pictures hitting the web promoting these two artists, and forcibly chose not to… well I was perplexed but luckily the performances were enjoyable enough for me to overlook the BS in the audience section.

Big brother is watching you.

I couldn’t help but look at the packed auditorium of 1000’s of Macross Frontier fans who new the words to every song being sung, who were avid fans of a show… a show yet to get distribution in the US and marvel in that fact. That’s a ton of people who had to find alternative means of finding Macross Frontier to watch… American DVD distributors take note. You missed out on this one, should have put it out at least a year ago already. The fans will get it one way or another.

Fans of the Frontier.

Luckily I ran into Ranka at a nearby cafe getting coffee before the performance.

The rest of the convention clearly took over downtown with Otaku-tastic proportions. Expo was better this year than the last couple of years. Here are some pics from the event. Enjoy!

Starscream was in attendance.

Lara Croft is always a crowd-pleaser.

Nausicaa was also in attendance.

Sheryl and Alto.

Hey Everyone, you may have noticed this blog has been a little quiet as of recently… No I didn’t get a new DREAMtech program, I have been wasting away “soaking in”. It’s much better than that, promise!

I’ve been hard at work on an episode of Iron Man: Armored Adventures! I can’t say much, other than it’s for season 2, and I’ve been enjoying the heck out of writing it!

This show is totally cyber and if you haven’t checked it out yet, I highly suggest you do… A complete DVD set of Season One was just released. In the States this show airs on Nicktoons. If you are an Iron Man, Marvel, or Mech fan, this is a good show for you!

I’ll keep everyone posted, but wanted to let you know I am hard at work on something totally awesome.

Continuing our celebration this month we have a special treat! A song has been written specifically for The Concrete World! That’s right! The Digital Assassin himself, Daniel Blak, was kind enough to write and record a song influenced by the themes of The Concrete World!

THANK YOU SIR! We Love it! “A Slight Pinch” is the perfect soundtrack for the imperfect future.

Daniel Blak has produced tons of music which you should check out this very minute (after you listen to the song he made for us of course…). And with the player below you can listen to “A Slight Pinch” as well as other tracks he has laid down.

Keep an eye on this one, he’s recording material for a new album, and if you should ever happen to see him live, you’re in for a real treat.

For more on The Digital Assassin click here for official site.
Click here for Myspace.

With this months update we have found ourselves reaching page 50!! I can’t believe it!

With any indie publication, in print or online, getting to page 50 is a reason to celebrate. We are one fourth of the way through the complete story of THE CONCRETE WORLD, but I have to say 50 pages is quite an accomplishment!

Concrete World artist Jettila Lewis pencils, inks, colors and shades the entire comic herself! All by herself, no assistants, no support from a major publisher, (Just me, off in the distance, threatening to cut off her supply of vodka, pop tarts and coffee beverages if she doesn’t continue to draw…)

We are very proud of the site/comic so far, a big thanks to Greg Hignight for helping behind the scenes and doing that computer work that eludes me greatly. He’s the Paulie of our little tech-fueled cyber-junky circle.

Thanks to www.topwebcomics.com for giving us a distribution route and a strong connection to the very people who we have made this comic for.

And finally a big big thanks to YOU! That’s right, you over there, thanks! We appreciate everyone who has joined our mailing list, added us and/or “liked” us on facebook, and most importantly all of you who come back for every update to read our cyberpunk-noir-webcomic.

I can promise you the next 50 pages will be even more intense! Felix, Paulie and Sera push their limits, the system comes crashing down around them… and they’ll be lucky to get out alive!

Thanks again to all our readers!
Gavin H.

Das Bunker, June 2010

It would appear that the need for gas-masks in our future is on everyone’s subconscious. I came across this graffiti in Santa Monica the other day.

And I came across this individual in the late hours of mid-city Los Angeles the other night.