Futurama Comics 69

Cover Caption: N/A
Cover Credits: Jason Ho, Mike Rote, Nathan Kane
Script: Eric Rogers
Pencils: Nina Matsumoto
Inks: Andrew Pepoy
Colors: Nathan Hamill
Letters: Karen Bates
Editor: Nathan Kane

Bongo Bonus Stamp: 141 Sal

DON'T GO TAKING MY HEART
During her normal check-up to see what parts and pieces are still working and which need replacing the dr. informs Mom that her heart is about to give out and will need to be replaced soon. Mom goes to her organ bank (the cryogenics lab) to get the necessary part from her 'donor'. Turns out her hear donor is none other than Philip J. Fry. Upon learning this Mom devises a scheme to get Fry to work for her at Mom Corp so that she can look after Fry and make sure he does nothing to ruin that young heart of his. Bender tags along and Mom replaces them both with a couple of space hobos.

While working for Mom, Fry goes to no end to make Mom happy and do a good job. Mom eventually asks Fry if he can adopt him and leave all her fortunes to her when she dies but it is more of a ruse to keep him close and safe. When she returns back to the doctor it is a miracle - her heart has grown healthy and two sizes bigger which means it should last her at least another fifty years. Mom decides to send Fry back to the cryogenics lab for re-freezing for later. Walt, Larry, and Ignar overhear and instead of taking Fry back to the cryogenics lab they dump him back at Planet Express and decide to tell Mom he has escaped. Fry spills his secret for getting Mom to love him to which Walt, Larry, and Ignar begin doing the same.

Another fun issue of Futurama Comics and at first was a little taken aback by the art. The issue was originally advertised as a James Lloyd issue and was expecting to see his great work upon opening the pages and was surprised at what I saw. The drawings were off for being a Lloyd penciled issue and I had to keep flipping through the pages and asking myself what the heck happened? Could it be true that for the first time ever a pencil job was phoned in by James? Turns out it wasn't and instead was penciled by Nina Matsumoto. Nina has been providing art for the Simpsons line of comics including the Treehouse of Horror anthology so she is understanding of the Groening universe but also brings her own spin and talent to the title. After getting over my initial shock I was able to settle in and enjoy this issue a bit more. She has a style that is very similar to Tone Rodriguez whom I also enjoy seeing so Nina should fit right in with Futurama Comics and am looking forward to more work from her.

The story was a fun one and the idea also seems very much like a Futurama episode and after the setup we get right in to the meat of the story. If I had to pick something that was not up to par it would be that there was no real secondary story of note as the main focus was Fry and her experience with Mom and how it affected Walt, Larry, and Ignar. There was some call backs to Leela and how she was getting along without Fry and Bender but there was really nothing there to substantiate much interest.

Also of note is the reprinting of Nathan Kane's article from this years Comic Con program book. Every year the program book selects a theme and invites writers and artists to submit art or articles that pertain to the theme. One of this years themes was the celebration of Bongo's twentieth year in business. It has been a long haul and Nathan has been there from almost the beginning and retells his experiences and admiration for working for Bongo. It is a good read and one that I hope to counter with a fans perspective here shortly.

Simpsons Treehouse of Horror Opening Features Futurama

So, as previously mentioned the Futurama gang will be making an appearance on the Simpsons later this year. Before that, various characters have popped up on the Simpsons from time to time making quick cameos and there will be another quick came on this weeks Treehouse of Horror special. The opening to the episode is directed by Guillermo del Toro of Hellboy, Pan's Labrynth, and Pacific Rim fame and has a quick cameo from the future's all time favorite show star - the Hypnotoad!!

Check it out here and catch it live this Sunday:
Treehouse of Horror XXIV

Futurama Comics 69 Release Date

October Release Dates | Bongo Comics

Just as you are finally getting around to reading Futurama Comics 68, issue 69 is fast approaching. Per the Bongo Comics website this will be released the second to last week in October - just in time to buy a few extra copies to give away to all those trick or treaters that will be coming to your doorstep demanding candy.

The Simpsons Futurama Crossover Event is Happening... Again!!

Picture taken from John DiMaggio
Twitter feed

As previously stated by both Matt Groening and David X. Cohen the good folks of the Planet Express crew will be making a visit to the world of Springfield this year. The Simpsons will be hosting our futurians in an episode later in the season. It appears the initial table reads have been completed as both Serban Cristescu and John DiMaggio have been sharing and tweeting about in both Facebook and Twitter. Both have shown off their signed scripts and pictures.







Picture taken from John DiMaggio
Twitter feed

No word yet on what the episode will entail or how the two worlds will collide but it should be good. It will be interesting to see how the interaction will differ in the hands of the show writers as opposed to how Ian Boothby and the rest of the Bongo Comics Group handled it. The production code for the crossover event will be SABF16. Can't wait! I may actually watch the Simpsons this year.





A Futurama Halloween - Fan Art

Update 9.26.13: So, coming along slowly but surely. Again, hoping to have it completed in time for Halloween but as I move forward it keeps changing and morphing in to something else. Perhaps with the attached color study it will become apparent what the goal of the finished piece will be.

It was always intended to include Fry, Leela, Farnsworth, Bender, and Zoidberg in a special cameo appearance but as I was laying out I thought it might be fun to include Cubert in there as well since he is a clone of the Professor. It may not be completely clear from the attached update but Cubert is in there along with Fry - you just have to look real close.

This drawing was done for a couple of reasons. The first to finalize the pose, positions, and look of each of the characters. These are the first blushes with Cubert and so may explore his interactions in the final piece. Fry and Leela I have worked out pretty well so I have them set and these newest drawings I have been working on have been to solidify both the Professor and Bender. They have both changed quite a bit from my initial layouts.

The second reason was to start looking at color. Since this is based on a classic horror movie I am looking at doing this as a black and white piece to give it that classic look. These are the first blushes of what it might look like with shadows and shades. If I do get to the point where I am actually finished and do decide to color I will have to figure out if this will be done in Photoshop or by hand. The attached are colored with simple markers and are done to get an idea as to the look and feel of the final piece. That is all for now!!

Original Post 9.14.13: So, been working on a couple of pieces to celebrate Halloween this year Futurama style - hey, the Simpsons can't have all the fun right? As may be clear from the images attached to this post it will be Frankenstein themed but with a bit of a twist that I hope will be fun. It will feature Leela, Fry, Farnsworth, Bender, Zoidberg, and an appearance by Flexo who is one of my favorites.

New Justice Team - Fan Art

The cover to Fantastic Four 1 is an iconic cover that probably near half of the comic book titles and artists out there have paid homage to it over the decades since it has been released. Bongo Comics has done it a few times including the cover to Simpsons Comics 1 and more recently their limited edition run of Comic Book Guy. To date, I am sorry to say, it has never been updated to the 31st Century featuring the Planet Express crew or more appropriately their super heroic counterparts the New Justice Team. That is until now...

This piece I have been thinking about for some time as I would love to see the Futurama gang pay homage to this most iconic of comic book covers and place themselves in the history books of comic book covers. Since Bongo wouldn't do it, I figured I would do it for them. Still working out some of the details here but most of the components are in place. I had struggled with Zoidberg's pose for some time and even tried him out in a pose from another iconic cover (also penciled by the great Jack Kirby) Amazing Fantasy 15 but it just didn't feel right so reworked him to the pose that you see now.

Bakersfield Comic Book Convention

Who likes hot weather? Do you like comic books? How about Bongo Comics and all the great artists who work on it? If you said yes, yes, and yes you might want to get in your car and head on out to Bakersfield this weekend for their sixth annual comic convention at the Bakersfield Marriot Hotel. The event is on Sunday the 22nd:

Bakersfield Comic Convention

In attendance of the show will be Bongo and Futurama Comics artists Mike Kazaleh, Tone Rodriguez, and Bill Morrison. Great opportunity to meet up with the folks who put pencil to paper and bring these great stories to life.

Futurama Art Charity Auction

Update September 12, 2013: This auction ended on September 8, 2013 and the piece went for a wopping $5,601!!! That is one lucky fan and hope they cherish this piece for years to come and we don't see it up on eBay again in the next year or so. Congratulations!!

Are you looking to own a piece of Futurama history before the show goes off the air? Do you like dogs? Do you have an extra $1,000 laying around that you don't know what to do with? If you answered yes to any of those questions you may want to check out this auction on eBay:

Bill Morrison Original Art

This is a one of a kind piece up for auction created by Bill Morrison to help Tiny Lovin' Canines shown off at this years Comic Con. Original art does not show up for sale or auction and for the past few years 20th Century Fox has put a kibosh on even sketches without their logo included on it which is why the good folks over at Bongo Comics have not done sketches on plain paper going on a decade now.

Bill Morrison Charity Fundraiser

Do you like Futurama? Do you like boobies? Do you want to help others in need? If you answered yes to any of these questions you might want to go check out Bill Morrison's Bowling for Boobies fundraiser page:

Bill Morrison Fundraiser Page

As an added special bonus Bill is offering the following incentives to get your hard earned dollars out of your pockets and in to those who desperately need it:

• $20 - A signed postcard from Rhino Records’ “Weird Tales of the Ramones!” that depicts my art from the comic book. (See photo attached!)
• $25 – A signed “Roswell Little Green Man” Christmas postcard...
• $30 – A signed comic book (Choose from any Bongo Comics title, Lady Robotika, Jingle Belle, Captain Carrot and the Final Ark, Rocketeer Adventures, Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol, or Jetta)
• $40 – A signed Julienne Fryes (from Roswell) pin-up calendar from 1997 or a signed Roswell print
• $50 – A signed Simpsons Comics or Simpsons-related trade paperback with a character head sketch
• $100 – A signed copy of the ultra-rare Roswell Little Green Man trade paperback with head sketch inside
• $250– ROSWELL BONANZA! A Roswell Little Green Man T-shirt, Roswell LGM magnet set, Roswell LGM button, a signed Julienne Fryes pin-up calendar, a signed Roswell print, and a signed Roswell LGM Trade paperback (Roswell Walks Among us) with head sketch inside
• $300 – A character sketch of your choice, full figure, on 9” X 12” Bristol board
• $500 – A signed Disney movie poster (of the Disney posters I painted back in the 1980’s) remarked with a character head sketch
• $750 – A signed page of original comic art from Lady Robotika
• $1000 – A signed set of the first 100 issues of Simpsons Comics with an original drawing in color

After you donate, Busted Foundation will contact you and send your e-mail address to me. Then I’ll contact you for your mailing address and any specifics regarding your swag.

Some pretty good Simpsons swag but have also confirmed with him that Simpsons items can be replaced with Futurama items. So, this is an opportunity to get some really cool one of a kind items as well as helping out your fellow human beings. I would assume the donation is tax deductible and who knows, it might save you from a trip to see the Robot Devil.
 

Futurama Live Podcasts

The Nerdist channel at Youtube has uploaded the Futurama Live Pre and Post Shows from last weeks final episode - Meanwhile. Lots of good discussion from the panel as well as questions from Twitter, Facebook, and the crowd.

Target New New York Fan Art Progress

OK, so after many a long year of enjoying the comics and the show and the occasional criticism of various directions and decisions with both I have finally decided to put up or shut up and create my own visions of the Futurama universe and what I think they look best in. I am currently working on about three different scenarios and each has their own story to tell and the finished products will each be different. I apologize for the light scans but I typically work out much of the details with blue pencil and then go over and refine a bit with an H pencil and since this would be intended to be brought in to Photoshop to be painted I am not overly concerned with finished line work. In addition these are rough sketches and is me trying to figure out some of the problems and solutions and quite frankly just trying to depict the characters in a somewhat competent way.

Meanwhile

Writer: Ken Keeler
Director: Peter Avanzino
Production Code: 7ACV26 
Original Air Date: September 4, 2013
Guest Voices: N/A

Avenge Us

While making a delivery on the moon, Fry, Bender, and Leela enjoy the amusement park on the moon. Bender eats too many corndogs before getting on the mecha-hexadecapus ride and gets sick spewing bolts and lugnuts in all directions which cause the gears of the mecha-hexadecapus to stop throwing Leela in to outer space. When security returns only with the stuffed bear she had earlier it appears that Leela is gone forever causing Fry to lament that he never got to tell her that he loved her when she was paying attention. Luckily for Fry and Leela she has gone Han Solo on her teddy bear and used a balloon animal replica of herself for oxygen and is still alive.

Futurama Last Episode... Probably... Maybe...

Well kiddies, it seems as though we have been down this road before but tonight is the last episode of Futurama... again. What is the fate of the show this time around? Not too sure but with three direct to disc movies (a total of nine half hour episodes), resurrected on Comedy Central for two additional seasons it is difficult to say what the future does hold (except for robots, lobster doctor's, one eyed mutants, and a new society built upon the ruins of the old - welcome to the world of tomorrow!!!!

Futurama Comics 68

Cover Caption: N/A
Cover Credits: Jason Ho, Mike Rote, Nathan Kane
Script: Patric Verrone
Art: Mike Kazaleh
Colors: Nathan Hamill
Letters: Karen Bates
Editor: Nathan Kane

Bongo Bonus Stamp: 35 Dr. Zoidberg

FUTURAMARUTUF
Well, where to begin? Another script from Patric Verrone and another somewhat simple story but once again, told in a very unique way that can be read from different directions. The basis of the story is that Professor Farnsworth has built a memory enhancer machine, however, in true Farnsworth fashion it doesn't quite work the way you think it would. It doesn't enhance the memory of the user, it dulls the memory of those around it thereby leveling the playing field. Think of it as the old joke - if you want to lose weight, hang around people who are fatter than you are. On top of that if you blink you will miss the reference to the time machine and how it plays in to the end thereby creating the Mobius timeline.

That is about all there is to the story, however, Patric Verrone doesn't let anyone off the hook that easy. The story is based on what is known as a Mobius strip. I am not quite sure I can properly explain what a Mobius strip is so you may want to head on out to Wikipedia and read up on it for yourself and then come back. I will wait...

...



...


...

OK, got it? Good. This issue can be read in multiple fashions. Upon first reading I did have a bit of trouble following the story completely, although, I did understand what was going on and what was happening. After finishing I went back to explore the issue a bit in further detail. If you want to spend a bit of time with it figuring it out for yourself don't skip to the jump and go have fun but just know it will be fun and will add much more to your reading experience. Patric Verrone has submitted a few stories for inclusion in Futurama Comics and they are always a fun read and this is not the first time he has done multiple readings in one comic. Just another reason why Futurama Comics are the most fun comics around when you get little gems like this.

Futurama Comics 68 In Stores Today

In Stores 8/28/13 | Bongo Comics

Hey kiddies. Futurama Comics 68 arrives today at your local comic book store. Head on out and take a look at what the latest at Bongo HQ has cooked up for you. It is a scintillating tale of intrigue, mystery, and action (may not be actual contents) served up by Patric Verrone and Mike Kazelah.

For those who don't know Patric was a writer for the Futurama show and has written a handful of comics and each is a fun, intriguing, and creative story (actual contents) and this time should prove to not be any different.

Go out and get it. Come back here later in the week for my own review and let's have a little discussion about it, already.

SDCC 2013 Bongo Comics Panel

As I have made it known on a few occasions I did not attend this years Comic Con and so was not able to attend the Bongo Comics panel and find out all the latest going ons in the house that Bongo built but CBR did attend and they have a rundown of what happened here:

SDCC 2013 Bongo Comics Panel at CBR

Delivery Boy Man Comics 1

Delivery-Boy Man Super Special Extravaganza Comic Book

Cover Credits: Matt Groening

Written by: Philip J. Fry

Drawing by: Philip J. Fry

Ink Provided by: Dr. Zoidberg

Copied by: Planet Express Copier

This comic was a giveaway at the Bongo Comics booth at the 2010 San Diego Comic Con and contains four original stories featuring Delivery-Boy Man.

The Origin of Delivery-Boy Man
It tells the origin of Delivery-Boy Man and how he came to Erth from a distant planet that was about to explode, how he was raised by poor farmers who took this alien baby in and raised him as their own, and how this baby then saw his parents gunned down in front of his very own eyes. He then became a rich scientist and was bitten by a huge radioactive spider which caused him to grow mutant claws, which allowed him to open packages to reveal a secret identity which would allow him to fight for justice.

Futurama Comics 20

 

Cover Credits: Matt Groening, Jason Ho, Mike Rote, Serban Cristescu
Script: Patric Verrone
Pencils: Tom King
Inks: Phyllis Novin
Letters: Karen Bates
Color: Joey Mason
Editor: Bill Morrison

BENDER BREAKS OUT
This is less a story as it is an exercise in playing with comic book conventions and involving the reader in a bit of fun and interaction. This is the second script by Futurama writer Patric Verrone and in both stories he has made strides in providing a fun and interactive reading experience and I hope that he continues to provide scripts for the comics even if they are straight ahead stories.

Loosely the plot revolves around Bender breaking out of the comic book world and in to another realm and it is up to the rest of the gang to track him down and bring him back to their reality. Along the way there are Omicronians L'rrr and NdNd and a tour of the Bongo Comics offices lead by editor Bill Morrison. In the end, of course, Bender is brought back and everything returns back to normal.

Futurama Simpsons Crossover Crisis TPB

Front Cover

This is the mother lode of all TPB - the one most clamored to have collected for either Simpsons or Futurama comics fans and Bongo did not disappoint. Not only do you get all four issues of this great limited series there is a plethora of extra material including sketches, pin-ups, and additional comics. This tome comes in at over 100 pages of Futurama and Simpsons madness. This was originally released in 2010 but since the old ABPoG site had been down for so long I am now just getting in to reviewing it and posting about it.

I won't talk too much about the stories here as I have already reviewed them as part of my initial comic book reviews which can be found here:

Futurama-Simpsons Crossover Part 1
Futurama-Simpsons Crossover Part 2
Futurama-Simpsons Crossover Part 3
Futurama-Simpsons Crossover Part 4
Simpsons Comics 87

John DiMaggio Interview on CNN

I came across this pretty good article on CNN regarding voice over actors and their lack of use in big budget movies. The article and interview includes Futurama voice actor John DiMaggio.

Futurama Panel from SDCC 2013

The last(?) Futurama Comic Con panel at Comic Con hosted and moderated by Bill Morrison, formerly of Bongo Comics and including Matt Groening and David X. Cohen. According to Groening SDCC would not allow more than five panelists so instead they have included 'special guests' and voice actors John DiMaggio, Phil LaMarr, Lauren Tom, Maurice Lamarche, Tress Macneille, David Herman, Katey Segal, and Billy West.
 

Futurama Comics 67

Cover Credits: Jason Ho, Mike Rote, Nathan Kane
Script: Ian Boothby
Pencils: James Lloyd
Inks: Andrew Pepoy
Colors: Nathan Hamill
Letters: Karen Bates
Editor: Nathan Kane

Bongo Bonus Stamp: 88 Nibbler

Tartar House Five
What starts out as a normal evening out with the Planet Express gang quickly turns in to a trip through both time and space for a favorite resident doctor - Dr. Zoidberg. The Professor has invited everyone to dinner to show them his latest invention - the Quantum Ring that exists in all time periods simultaneously. When the appetizers of calamari arrives Zoidberg steals what he thinks is a calamari ring which turns out to be the Professor's Quantum Ring sending Zoidberg on a trip that even Alice would have agreed was pretty trippy.