HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Here’s the art I drew for this year’s Image Comics Holiday card…

It’s based off of the art I drew for the Marvel Comics Holiday card from a couple of years ago…

… all of which, of course, is based off the famous dancing scene from the Emmy-winning classic, “A Charlie Brown Christmas”…

Happy holidays to everyone, and if you aren’t observing any holidays, I hope you’re having a good time just the same.

-Chris G

SPIDER-MAN AND POWER PACK #2

SPIDER-MAN AND POWER PACK #2 went on sale today.  It features part II of CIVIL WARDS, the ongoing 4-page Mini Marvels back-up that I’m drawing with writer Marc Sumerak.  This part features appearances by Sandman and Spider-Woman.  So, for all of you Sandman and Spider-Woman fans who are ALSO Mini Marvel fans, THIS IS THE FOUR-PAGE BACK-UP FEATURE FOR YOU!  DON’T MISS IT!
-Chris

JOE Q’s Minor Mini Marvel Mention…

Marvel Editor in Chief Joe Quesada made a brief mention of the Mini Marvels in his latest NEW JOE FRIDAYS column at Newsarama. The same column also posts the latest Mini Marvels strip as well. Check it out, eh?

-Chris G

INTERVIEW ON NEWSARAMA

Marc Dworkin, Eugene Lenhert and I did an interview with Benjamin Ong Pang Kean at Newsarama about the ARMAGEDDON FOR ANDY movie and the ANDY comic.  Check it out!

-Chris G

CIVIL WARDS

Some day I want to work on something that is easy to explain.

Right now, I’m drawing a new Mini Marvels story that will be featured as a back-up in the new SPIDER-MAN AND POWER PACK four-issue mini series. Each back-up Mini Marvels installment will be four pages. That is, there will be four issues of a book called SPIDER-MAN AND POWER PACK, and in each of those four issues, four pages will be devoted to a segment of a Mini Marvels story I’m drawing, and so when the four issue mini series is over, there will have been sixteen pages (four times four equals sixteen) of a brand new Mini Marvels tale. The story, titled CIVIL WARDS, will be written by POWER PACK writer, Marc Sumerak.

Part 1 of CIVIL WARDS, my new Mini Marvels project, will be on sale this Wednesday in SPIDER-MAN AND POWER PACK #1.

Some readers will remember previous comic strip back-up material from previous POWER PACK mini serieses called FRANKLIN RICHARDS: SON OF A GENIUS. That stuff was done by Chris Eliopoulos, not me. Chris and I are often confused for each other by fans. I have been asked to sign some of Chris’s work at comic conventions. My ex-girlfriends have been known to slap Chris E. in the face. No, we don’t LOOK that much alike, but the similarities between us are downright uncanny and (some of) my ex-girlfriends are stupid. Yes, I know I did not pluralize “series” properly.

First of all, we’re both named Chris, one of the least popular names you’re likely to find in this country, so right there, we’re starting off with a pretty unique coincidence of a similarity. Think about it, do you know more than one person named Chris, if any? Probably not. To further the ridiculous nature of our nomenclature, note that we both have long unpronounceable last names. Don’t believe me? Say “Giarrusso”. Now say “Eliopoulos”. My apologies, for ’twas not my intent to strike a blow to your self confidence by ushering a challenge that would cause you to fail twice in a row. I meant only to illustrate the degree of impossibility that is involved with pronouncing either my or Chris E’s last name. If you are sitting there smugly for having successfully pronounced either one or both of our names correctly, then indulge yourself, dear reader, with a pat on the back, but keep in mind that neither Chris nor I were on hand to verify the pronunciation and neither of us will believe you otherwise.

Second, we are both cartoonists. That narrows the playing field WAY down. I challenge you to find one other person in the comics industry named Chris. You can’t do it because there aren’t any. I know what you’re thinking — “What about Chris Bachalo? What about Chris Ware?” Their names are not Chris. Chris Bachalo’s name is Steven, and Chris Ware’s name is Stephen. Try not to get THEM confused.

Third, we’re both associated with comics creator Erik Larsen and his comic book, SAVAGE DRAGON. Chris used to do a comic strip back-up in SAVAGE DRAGON called DESPERATE TIMES. I currently do a comic strip back-up in SAVAGE DRAGON called COMIC BITS. To most SAVAGE DRAGON readers, the transition was seamless because no transition was even registered by the fans at all! A quick look in the back of SAVAGE DRAGON and one can easily confirm, “yep, that Chris guy’s drawin’ them comic strips still.”

Fourth, we’re both ex Marvel bullpenners. That’s right, the only two guys in the nation named Chris both broke into the comics industry by working in the Mighty Marvel Bullpen! What are the chances???!!! I’ve calculated the chances, and they are impossibly high — about one in seven.

Really, the major difference between Chris E. and I has been his involvement drawing comic strip back-ups for POWER PACK with writer Marc Sumerak, something I’d never done… until now. It’s really strange how life can work out.

-Chris G

ANDY REVIEWED

Dave Baxter gives a review of ANDY (a comic which I drew) at Broken Frontier.

You can order a copy of ANDY from Comixpress.

-Chris G

STAN LEE MEETS and more…

Well, my Stan Lee strip is out this week, on sale now in STAN LEE MEETS DOCTOR STRANGE. Check it out!

The new MINI MARVELS strip is now also available in MARVEL ADVENTURES: SPIDER-MAN #20. I haven’t been so good about making announcements regarding the MINI MARVELS strips because I’m generally unaware when they are actually going to be printed, and Marvel doesn’t really keep me informed. Anyway, the newest strip is currently in a “panel of the week contest”. Vote for me! It’d be nice if my wholesome and innocent panel could beat out candidate number 2.

-Chris G