Zombie Chuck shambles into Kansas City

Zombie Chuck #1
Zombie Chuck is a new comic book by local cartoonist Brian Fyffe.

“Chuck is just a regular guy, turned zombie when he is murdered and then brought back to life by alien means,” says local cartoonist Brian Fyffe.

Fyffe has recently published the first issue of his comic book, Zombie Chuck. “I like color, and I set out to make a lighthearted comic that ended up being all-ages,” Fyffe says.

The first issue follows Chuck and his girl Lily on a night-time expedition to find the grave of his favorite horror writer. The pair stumble upon an evil space alien as it is bringing the dead back to life. As the story unfolds, we learn how Chuck is turned into a living zombie with superpowers.

Zombie Chuck toys
Brian Fyffe's Zombie Chuck toys are made in Kansas City.

Fyffe, who spends his days as a commercial artist, is planning to publish three issues of Zombie Chuck. In addition, he has developed Zombie Chuck buttons, t-shirts, and resin toys. “Every bit of Chuck is made local,” Fyffe says. “My toys are cast in resin, right in the West Bottoms by Adam Smith Studios. I made them with a retro style in mind. I wanted all of the merchandise to be a nod to classic monster culture of the 60s and 70s.”

Fyffe is scheduled for an in-store appearance during Elite Comics‘ Free Comic Book Day activities on May 7th.  In the meantime, you can learn more about Brian Fyffe and order your Zombie Chuck comics and toys at www.fyffo.com.

 

Last minute schedule changes at Planet Comicon

Planet Comicon
Planet Comicon is Kansas City's largest comics and pop culture convention.

Costume contest, new panel appearances, and a guest cancellation lead the list of last minute changes.

As this weekend’s Planet Comicon approaches, its promoters continue to tweak the schedule of events. For the second year, the convention will feature a costume contest. This year, the contest will be held at 4:00 PM on Saturday on a new stage in the main convention hall. Contestants can register to participate in the contest prior to 3:30 at the Elite Comics booth.

The panel schedule also has additions. Peter Rios, one of the hosts of the popular podcast Comic Geek Speak, will moderate two panels. On Saturday at 2:00, Rios will helm the “DC Unleashed” panel with guests Gail Simone, Phil Hester, Rick Burchett, and Yanick Paquette. Then he takes on “Independent Visions in the Mainstream” at 2:00 on Sunday. That panel features Tony Harris, Jason Latour, B. Clay Moore, and newly confirmed panelist Ben Templesmith.

The promoters also announced that comics guest Rick Remender has had to cancel his appearance at the show. According to the website, “We are sorry that circumstances have arisen that require him to miss the show, but wish him well and hope that he can attend a future Planet Comicon.”

 

Screamland returns in a new on-going series from Image Comics

Screamland
A second volume of the series Screamland will debut in June from Image Comics

Image Comics has announced that a second volume of the comic book series Screamland will debut in June. The book is written by former Kansas City resident Harold Sipe and Christopher Sebela. It features artwork by local creators Lee Leslie, Hector Casanova, and Buster Moody.

The comic book can be pre-ordered at comics shops now. It is the first issue of an on-going series, and will sell for $2.99.

Screamland is set in a world where movie monsters are real and are mostly unemployed because of CGI special effects. In the initial story of the new series, “Death of the Party,” two monsters cancel their convention autograph sessions to stop the release of a monster porn movie that could destroy any chance for feature creatures to get legitimate work again.

Hector Casanova, who drew the original mini-series run of Screamland, contributes covers to this new series. The regular interior artist is now Lee Leslie, who also creates the Rigby the Barbarian webcomic. Buster Moody provides coloring for the series.