Open Secrets
The final issue of Locke & Key got a smashingly great review over on the Cin City site, and another from the guys at Pulp Secret, which you can check out right here:
I’m glad to hear both Pulp Secret and CinCity hone in on what Gabe has been doing that’s so special. He’s brought these characters to life with great nuance and emotional realism, and if the story manages to be suspenseful, that’s largely because of Gabe’s careful attention to choreography, and his use of space within each panel. I know I can’t wait to get this thing going again in Locke & Key: Head Games, in large part because of what a blast it is to be Gabe’s collaborator. (I should mention as well that Jay Fotos’s colors have complimented Gabe’s art perfectly, and also dramatically help shape the mood of every page… colorers do so much, and rarely get anything in the way of credit…)
Also, I had an e-mail this morning that HEART-SHAPED BOX was nominated for a British Fantasy Award in the Best Novel category, and “Thumbprint” earned a nod for short story. My thanks to everyone with the BFA who threw some love my way. I ‘preciate it, and I sure am sorry I won’t be at Fantasycon this year to get shitfaced with Stephen Jones and Pete Crowther and other reprobates attend the ceremony.
And speaking of Pete Crowther, Pete was in America for NeCon a couple weeks back, and I had a great dinner with him and Nicky Crowther and Chris Golden and Chris’s wife Connie. If Vincent Chong and Nick Gevers had been there, it would’ve been a full meeting of 20th Century Ghosts, Inc. And here’s a picture of us, ’cause it’s always a good time for a picture. From left: Christopher Golden, Nicky Crowther, Me, Connie Golden, and CEO of PS Publishing, Peter Crowther.
August 7th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
Wow! Congratulations again!!! So happy to read of the awards and recognition you, Gabriel, & Jay Foto have been receiving. Well earned (well, from what I’ve seen of L&K). HSB and 20thCG deserve ‘em all in my opinion.
Congrats and thanks for sharing the picture. Looks like a nice bunch of people.
(Too bad ya won’t be ” spending time ” with the others at Fantasycon.)
:0) Yay!
August 7th, 2008 at 12:51 pm
I adore Peter Crowther. He’s such a kind, kind man.
August 7th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
Sweet! More awards coming your way! WOO HOO!!!!!
And dammit, I missed Peter! I didn’t know he was at NeCon!!
What a great guy!
August 7th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
Congrats on all the recognition.
Love the photo. You guys look happy and at ease with life.
Why does Shane shy away from photo ops?
August 7th, 2008 at 5:30 pm
First I want to thank you Joe, for letting us know about the recognition you are getting for your work. Please, keep doing it…I know you feel like tooting your own horn is a pain, but I love reading this stuff. It not only makes me happy that you are getting the recognition you deserve, but it also re-inforces what I have known from the first moment I read something you wrote…HSB. You are truly on your way and I really, really like being right!
Congrats again on your nominations and your good reviews! I love this:
“Many, many comics can take a cue from this immaculately written book. Reading it is a breath of fresh air in a literary world plagued by many superheroes and various other characters penned with a half hearted attempt at humanism. These characters live, they breathe, they feel fear, and they are without a doubt in pain. The subtleties not only in how their characters are written, but in how they are portrayed artistically, make this a book to be not just enjoyed, but necessary in the continuation of comics as a respected medium.”
This is exactly how I feel but CinCity said it better than I ever could. I love the Locke family and am very concerned with what happens to them. I find that fascinating…that I could be so invested in fictional characters! It doesn’t happen that much to me and I read ALOT. And the fact that this is a comic has me even more amazed considering I haven’t even read a comic since I was a teenager about a million years ago. I’m reminded of a time when my best friend and I used to buy the “Alfred Hitchcock Magazine” and used to read stories to each other in the afternoons. It wasn’t a comic, but for some reason L&K reminds me of those days. Thank you Joe, Gabriel and Jay for exciting me again and reminding me of the good old days!
August 7th, 2008 at 6:04 pm
I love Alfred Hitchcock, Betsy. His old magazines, the old black and white tv show in the 1950s and 1960s. And of course the movies he directed, The Birds, Psycho, etc.
As far as Shane shying from photographs, I too shy from them and envy Joe that he does not mind. I went to a work party a few months ago and someone caught out their camera and I hid behind a woman but then just when I thought it was safe to poke out my head, another light flashed.
August 7th, 2008 at 6:44 pm
hmmm…I wonder if Max Brooks likes A.Hitchcock( in reference to his comments on the panel with joe and others)…”emotional realism” thats what i love about Gabe’s work..i first noticed this in his work on Mr.Barkers comic adaptation( I was really mad when i forgot my comics of Gabe’s other works and here he was sitting right in front of me at SDCC…Gabe, a heatfelt thank you for ur time at SDCC..)..Im glad that this work is causing people to raise their flag in support of this material…
August 7th, 2008 at 6:46 pm
Shane is too much of a pimp for photographs…first rule of pimp club…dont get caught with other ho’s
August 7th, 2008 at 6:57 pm
Mark’s picking up what I’m putting down! Thanks, man!
Mary, really… I don’t think that I necessarily shy away from photos, I just like to have good photos of me ‘out there’ and lately, there’s not been many. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that I’m always the guy with the camera, hence the one taking the pictures. =]
August 7th, 2008 at 10:10 pm
Finally, I was able to sit down and “watch” that. They had all great things to say! And, they said you were “the nicest guys ever” ! I couldn’t agree more :0)
So, congrats again.
September 13th, 2008 at 11:03 pm
Adult Social Network…
Wow…your article was inspiring! You should check out this great adult social network. Free videos and pictures!…