A note on the scarf...

So I received a letter from an NYX reader with an unusual question today. He was kind enough to let me post his email, along with my answer, which will hopefully serve to allay any similar concerns anyone out there may have.

The email:

Hello Kalman,

I just picked up the latest issue of NYX, in which you were the artist, and was a little concerned to see Kiden wearing a keffiyah, a show of solidarity with Palestinian terrorism. Was this your intention or is this a misunderstanding?

I look forward to hearing back from you
-Dan

And my response:

Hey Dan,

Thanks for picking up the book, and for writing.

There is absolutely no political agenda at work here. Whatever the keffiyah may mean to Palestinians, or to you, or to Israelis etc., it's undeniable that here in North America it has become a ubiquitous fashion item among urban teen hipsters. I'm not really able to speak for said hipsters, but I'm certain 99% of them are against terrorism of any kind, Palestinian or otherwise. As am I, for the record.

My decision to dress Kiden in this scarf, simply boils down to the fact that she is an urban teen hipster, and I made her fashion choices reflect her time and her subculture. It's pretty safe to say that if asked, Kiden would have no sympathy for terrorism in any form. Furthermore, she, like most urban teen hipsters, would probably be unaware and unconcerned with the issues of the Middle East, and probably equally unaware of the origins of, what to her and her peers, is an apolitical fashion accessory.

All the best,
-Kalman

And there you have it.

This is the day, this is the hour...

This is it kids! Out this Wednesday August 6th at your LCS (as the nerdvine calls it -- see how I did that?), NYX: No Way Home #1.

Pick it up, give it a flip, let me know how you like it.

Arkham Knight

So I've been hearing whispers through the nerd-grapevine (the nerdvine?) that my Heroclix booster art has finally been posted in the Heroclix regions of the interweb. And I'm here to tell you that it's true. The images are out there, so now they can be here too.





The top version was what I originally submitted. The bottom version was what they wanted. The middle version was our compromise. The bottom version is what they went with. That's the biz kids, (when you deal with Wiz kids... oh I slay me.) I have to say, despite my trepidation about ALL THAT WHITE overpowering the characters and drawing the eye to all the wrong spots, it actually looks pretty good on the final package.

Crank-tastic

So I found myself on the crankcast earlier this week, much to my surprise.

Hold on, the what?

The crankcast, the comics/ramble podcast put on by stalwart mensches Mike Norton and Chris Crank. If you're at all curious what three nerds like us could possibly talk about for an hour-and-a-half, you can stream the 94 minute monster, or simply subscribe through itunes.

'Cause I'm not going to tell you here.

Oh, and for the record, that's NOT a picture of me on the crankcast site, next to the relevant post (It's Nigel Kneale, actually.)

But I'm kind of wishing it was... maybe it's time to shave the beard and bring the burns back...

You saw it here first...!

...unless you didn't.

Presenting the lovely variant cover for NYX #1 by the equally lovely and talented Jo Chen...

*Drool* Yet another excellent reason to buy this book, people.

In other news I'll be at the Paradise Toronto Comicon this coming weekend of July 12th and 13th. It's being held at the Holiday Inn on the corner of King and Peter St. Come by, say hi, and thumb through an issue+ of yet unseen NYX art.

The Rip

Brilliant brilliant song. Brilliant brilliant video.
This track was an immediate stand-out for me on Portishead's new THIRD album, but recently it's crept back into heavy rotation. And since I can't share the things I'm drawing...

NYX preview art

At last! Huzzah! W00t w00t!








All right, all right. I know I promised you art here first and then got scooped by Newsarama, but look there's art here now. All of the art from that interview, in fact. Which, incidentally, seems to have vanished off the Newsarama servers, at least for today.
But you gotta cut me some slack, because the reason I haven't been posting, is that I've been drawing, and really, you'd rather have me doing that, wouldn't you?

So here I am working hard to save you clicks. And if you did click over there and find nothing but red X's where the art should be, well I sincerely apologize on behalf of Newsarama.

But we're still friends, right?