Joel Meadows
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Articles by Joel Meadows
Sherlock Holmes And The Empire Builders Mad Cave Edition Renamed To Reflect Its Oversized Format
Mad Cave Studios published our Sherlock Holmes and The Empire Builders The Gene Genie in a single collection this April but now it has been renamed to reflect its oversized format (11 x 15 inches)… Sherlock Holmes and The Empire Builders: The Gene Genie Treasury Edition Sherlock Holmes and The Empire Builders is an epic alternate world sci fi adventure featuring the World’s Greatest Detective as people have never seen him before.
“We’re not machines, we’re people” – comic artists speak out on AI
The Lake Como Comic Arts Festival is a unique event solely dedicated to comic art, featuring over 60 artists from the US, UK, and Europe in a picturesque location by Lake Como. The festival provides a platform for artists like David Mack and Gary Frank to discuss the impact of AI on art, with concerns about AI potentially replacing human artists and affecting the prospects of the next generation of creators.
In Conversation with Joel Meadows of the Sherlock Holmes Graphic Novel Series
Listen to Joel Meadows discuss his brand new book Sherlock Holmes and The Empire Builders, a unique sci-fi steampunk take on Holmes in graphic novel form. Joel Meadows is a writer and journalist who has covered the fields of comics, film, TV, genre and illustration for over three decades now.
In Review: Sherlock Holmes and the Empire Builders Volume 2: The Gene Genie
Written by Joel Meadows and illustrated by Andy Bennett When Watson leaves Holmes to help Crick unravel the DNA helix and finds himself in the employ of England’s most evil man, Holmes is forced to team up with an unlikely group to defeat this monstrous figure and return England to its status quo. But can he defeat the machinations of the man at the rudder of the country?
Fantastic Four artists reveal the secrets of how they draw Marvel's first family
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Credit: Marvel / Dean Haspiel 2025 is a big year for Marvel’s first family as The Fantastic Four: First Steps hits cinemas on 24 July. Set in the 1960s, with a cast that includes Pedro Pascal and Vanessa Kirby, the new movie marks a return after a number of years away from the big screen.
Fantastic Four artists reveal the joys and challenges of drawing Marvel's first family
1 hour ago Her love life was in chaos. The solution? Giving up sex When writer Melissa Febos was 35, she decided to temporarily give up sex. "I was coming off a devastating relationship where I had become so obsessive. I had gone completely off the rails," she says. She was so focused on her partner that she neglected her health, work and friendships.
Fantastic Four artists reveal the joys and challenges of drawing Marvel's first family
To celebrate the return of Mister Fantastic, Invisible Woman, Human Torch and the Thing to the big screen, we caught up with some of those artists to learn about their approach and inspiration and whether they work on physical media or the best digital art software. (Image credit: Marvel / Dean Haspiel) Legend Walter Simonson drew a fan-favourite run on the book back in the 1990s. He says his approach to drawing Reed Richards and co was clearly delineated.
The 185-year-old company still clothing British film
Joel Meadows finds out the story of legendary British costume suppliers Angels – and it goes back a very long way. This article first appeared in Film Stories issue 26 in July 2021. Very few companies span a whole century in film, and even fewer have a history that goes back to the Victorian era. Angels is one of those companies. Based in West Hendon in North London, the company’s head, Jeremy Angel, is a man very aware of its history.
"I find Superman very hard to draw" – legendary artists reveal why the Man of Steel is so difficult to get right | Flipboard
The more you connect the dots in his work, the more the insidious and catastrophic work of the US government, law enforcement, and military come to …
"I find Superman very hard to draw" – legendary artists reveal why the Man of Steel is so difficult to get right
Superman also continues to attract the best in artistic talent from the world of comics, but such an iconic and timeless character throws up challenges for those who portray him on the page. We spoke to some of the talented comics artists who have tackled that task to find out how they approach Superman art. They revealed the difficulties involved in drawing Superman and spoke about how they work, be it using analogue media or digital art software.
Comic book page—featuring Deadpool's first appearance—sells for nearly $1m at auction
The original artwork for a page from the comic book New Mutants No. 98, in which the character of Deadpool made his first appearance, did not quite break records but it came very close. Over 5700 people bid on this historical page 14 through Heritage Auctions with the winner grabbing it for a cool $960,000. Interest in the character is high thanks to the $1.3bn blockbuster Deadpool v Wolverine, which was released in cinemas this year.
When Captain Marvel fought antisemitism
1 day ago In the imagination of the world, there could be nobody more Jewish than the ultra-Orthodox. With their black hats, sidecurls and frock coats, they are taken as the very epitome of the culture. That is why their radical fringes are appropriated by Israelophobes seeking a cover for their bigotry, as …
Comic Art Festival offers alternative to trade fair model
Ask the average fine art professional to imagine a comic convention, and their first thoughts will probably go to die-hard fans in elaborate homemade costumes, stalls selling loads of mass-produced merchandise and crowds in the tens, if not hundreds, of thousands.
The Compost Conversation – Light, dry and unhappy | Midland Express
By Joel Meadows Continuing our exploration of compost density, this week we look at what happens when our compost is too light and too full of air pockets. Ideal compost pile moisture is 55 per cent – when squeezed, just wet enough to wring out a drop or two, but not dripping. An overly light compost just can’t hold that much water, and to make matters worse, all those air pockets mean our compost dries out faster too.
Order Sherlock Holmes And The Empire Builders The Gene Genie Vol.1 On Amazon Kindle Now
Thanks to Adrian Clarke at Shift, a convenient version of Sherlock Holmes And The Empire Builders The Gene Genie Vol.1 is now available to grab on Amazon Kindle now… Sherlock Holmes and The Empire Builders is an epic epic alternate world sci-fi adventure featuring The World’s Greatest Detective as people have never seen him before.
‘Sherlock Holmes and the Empire Builders: Gene Gene’ Vol. One OGN (review)
Written by Joel Meadows Art by Andy Bennett Published by Tripwire Comics There’s been a bunch of different stories and a bunch of different versions of Sherlock Holmes over the years. That goes for comic books, movies, plays, and even books. There is a new comic that has just come out that is yet another version of the character. I immediately wondered if this was something I might like or if it is something that I was going to roll my eyes about.
Order Sherlock Holmes And The Empire Builders The Gene Genie Vol.1 On Amazon In Hardcover Now
Thanks to Adrian Clarke at Shift, a convenient version of Sherlock Holmes And The Empire Builders The Gene Genie Vol.1 is now available to grab print on demand in hardcover now… Sherlock Holmes and The Empire Builders is an epic epic alternate world sci-fi adventure featuring The World’s Greatest Detective as people have never seen him before.
Order Sherlock Holmes And The Empire Builders The Gene Genie Vol.1 On Amazon In Paperback Now
Thanks to Adrian Clarke at Shift, a convenient version of Sherlock Holmes And The Empire Builders The Gene Genie Vol.1 is now available to grab print on demand in paperback now… Sherlock Holmes and The Empire Builders is an epic epic alternate world sci-fi adventure featuring The World’s Greatest Detective as people have never seen him before.
The Compost Conversation: Free carbon – do we want it? | Midland Express
By Joel Meadows Paper and cardboard are readily available, free ingredients that are easy additions to our compost piles.
Sherlock Holmes and The Empire Builders by Joel Meadows, Andy Bennett
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Sherlock Holmes and The Empire Builders
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Sherlock Holmes And The Empire Builders 2023: The Gene Genie 1 by Joel Meadows, Andy Bennett
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Sherlock Holmes and The Empire Builders 2023: Volume One 1 by Joel Meadows, Andy Bennett
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Sherlock Holmes and The Empire Builders 2023: Volume One 1 by Joel Meadows, Andy Bennett
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Sherlock Holmes and The Empire Builders - The Gene Genie Volume One
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Sherlock Holmes and The Empire Builders - The Gene Genie Volume One
You can either access the transaction through your account and click the cancel button, or contact us at hello@wearezoop.com and we'll cancel it for you and send back a confirmation email. Cancellations of rewards or add-ons of $500 or more must be made before there are 72 hours left in the campaign. The reason for this is it can have a negative effect on the tally of the campaign.
Sherlock Holmes and The Empire Builders - The Gene Genie Volume One
0) { reportedTop = false; } if(!reportedBottom && $el.getBoundingClientRect().top >= window.innerHeight) { $dispatch('anchor-bottom', {id: 'details'}); reportedBottom = true; } else if(reportedBottom && $el.getBoundingClientRect().top <= window.innerHeight) { reportedBottom = false; } " > Story I have been a fan of Holmes since ! was a child and Sherlock Holmes and The Empire Builders is my love letter to Doyle’s creation, while bringing something new to the canon.
What if a comic convention focused exclusively on comic art? One does, and its Italy's Lake Como Comic Art Festival
Picture a comic convention, and each of you will fill it in with various standardized elements: an artist's alley, dealer tables, maybe a few publishers, an area for celebrity signings, and then some halls or draped-off areas for panels. A new comic convention on the circuit has dispensed with most all of that in favor of the one thing which comic cons started around: the comic creators themselves.
EXCLUSIVE Heavy Metal Preview: Tripwire 30th Anniversary
Tripwire 30th is a look back at thirty years of pre-eminent comics and pop culture magazine and website Tripwire as well as a look at the last three decades of comics, film and TV . The book includes a selection of art peppered throughout by the likes of Drew (Indiana Jones) Struzan, Jock (Batman, Mondo posters), legend Walter Simonson (Thor, Ragnarok) and many others as well as features looking at the comics, creators, characters and companies which have come to the fore since 1992.
Tripwire 30th Anniversary|Paperback
Joel Meadows is a journalist and writer with over three decades of experience in newspapers, magazines, and books. His CV includes some of the most renowned publications in the world, including Time magazine, the Times, the Guardian, and the Observer. He has also written extensively about comics, film, TV, and culture for publications such as Variety, Empire, Big Issue in the North, and the Jewish Chronicle.
How Walter Simonson’s Thor run made the Marvel character a worldwide hit
2022 is the 60th anniversary of Marvel’s Thor, a comic character whose profile has been lifted thanks to the God of Thunder’s appearance in a number of high-profile Marvel movies over the past decade. But it was the success of writer/artist Walter Simonson’s run which began with the iconic Thor #337 back in 1983 which brought the character back to readers’ attention.
Whatever happened to Polygram Pictures? – Film Stories
It gave the big US studios a run for their money for nearly 20 years – but what happened to Polygram Pictures? OUR BEST EVER SUBSCRIPTION OFFER! Try three issues of Film Stories magazine – for just £1: right here! Polygram Pictures was founded 40 years ago as a partnership with film producer Peter Guber. A few years later, PolyGram Video was launched, headed by Michael Kuhn and David Hockman.
Remembering Steve Dillon: How Dillon's family honors their father, brother, and friend with a touring exhibit of his work
In 2016, comics lost a true original with the passing of British comics artist Steve Dillon, who had come up through the ranks of Warrior and 2000AD. He was best-known to US audiences as the artist on DC/ Vertigo’s Hellblazer and as the co-creator of the same imprint’s Preacher series.
Tripwire 30th Anniversary
Joel Meadows is a journalist and writer with over three decades of experience in newspapers, magazines, and books. His CV includes some of the most renowned publications in the world, including Time magazine, the Times, the Guardian, and the Observer. He has also written extensively about comics, film, TV, and culture for publications such as Variety, Empire, Big Issue in the North, and the Jewish Chronicle.
Joel Meadows
Jesus Merino began, after successive participations in fanzines and contests, publishing serveral works in Laberinto Line of the Spanisch publisher Planeta DeAgostini: Anibal Gris (1996) Checkmate (1997) and Vertice Triad (1998), limited series in black and white with different themes in which superheroes abounded already.
YDA winner Vincent Gibaud on his animated award winner
How did you get into directing ? After I left French animation school, I wanted to direct another short film so I just told myself: ‘You will direct another short film’, and that’s how I got into directing. I just told myself: ‘You will direct another short film’, and that’s how I got into directing. Two Nightmares In My Story has a hand-drawn look to it. How important was it for you to use this style, and how did you achieve it?
How David Dearlove made the YDA laugh
How did you get into directing? My day job is as an advertising creative [at Engine London], so moving into directing is a fairly common ambition amongst creatives. You write the thing, so you want to see it all the way through to completion. What was the inspiration behind Taj Mahal Presents A Short Film? As part of my day-job I'm often shown directors' reels. Your heart always sinks slightly when there's a short film in amongst them.
How Svend Colding's film charmed the YDA to win gold
How did you get into directing? Always the hardest question. I'm not really sure. I've always loved film but never really saw it as an option when I was growing up. I'm not from the capital (Copenhagen) and I didn't know anyone in the industry, so I didn't have any shortcuts to get the work. But I was pretty sure that it would be something that I would love. I've always loved to create stories so that might be why. So, I went to New York and took a one-year class at New York Film Academy.
Vincent René-Lortie on his YDA win and what the future holds
How did you get into directing? I got into direction when I was 18, I think. I was studying television and, in the first year, I directed two short films and absolutely loved the experience, whether it was stop-motion, with the first one, or live-action with the second. I always had a deep love for cinema, but I really understood that this was what I wanted to pursue that year. I then changed programmes to Film Production at Concordia University in Montreal.
Zornitsa Dimitrova's YDA winning streak
What was your route into directing? I studied media studies almost by chance and really enjoyed writing film analysis, as far as my German back then allowed it. A professor of mine was once interviewing the cinematographer Renato Berta. He had thoroughly analysed his work and had those theories about why things were done the way they were. When asked about whether those observations were correct, Renato Berta just said: “You interpreted all this in my work? We were actually just goofing around”.
Sinan Sevinç's YDA gold rush
How did you get into directing? During my school years I started making rap music with a friend of mine. We built a small studio with a very basic set-up in my parents' basement. As our tracks slowly got better, we also wanted to create music videos. Of course, we didn't have enough money, so I started taking the camera into my own hands and edited by myself.
Freelancer findings
The world of advertising has always cultivated a healthy number of freelancers. There are many reasons as to why people decide to take the plunge and leave the comfort of a steady, regular job. Going freelance is challenging in the healthiest of environments, but 2020 was one of the toughest years in modern memory for the whole world, never mind the advertising industry. If more people are going freelance, then I expect that is because they are being forced to.
‘Savage Sword of Conan: Conan The Gambler’ (review)
Review by Anna-Maria Robinson Written by Meredith Finch, Roy Thomas, Jim Zub Art by Alan Davis, Luke Ross, Patch Zircher Published by Marvel Comics With the new version of this legendary comic, Marvel managed to leave its fans pleasantly surprised yet again. The latest trade paperback, based on the stories by Robert E. Howard is out now and features three distinct stories, all full of unpredictable plot twists and endless excitement.
‘LEGO DC: Shazam! Magic and Monsters’ Coming 6/16 to Blu-ray/DVD; Now Available on Digital
Youth, truth and trust are central to the latest brick-tastic adventure when DC’s Justice League welcomes its newest – and youngest – member in LEGO DC: Shazam! Magic and Monsters, an all-new, full-length animated feature film in the LEGO DC series. Produced by Warner Bros. Animation, DC and the LEGO Group, the film will be distributed by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment is currently on Digital, and on Blu-ray Combo Pack ($24.98 SRP) and DVD ($19.98 SRP) on June 16, 2020.
‘Wyrd’ TPB (review)
Written by Curt Pires Art by Antonio Fuso Published by Dark Horse Comics I had read this series with no expectations going in. I had no idea what it was about and just dug in. The book isn’t half bad and I enjoyed a lot of it. It does get a a bit over the top with the violence at times, however. A little subtlety could have gone a long way here. The book introduces us immediately to our main character who’s named Pitor Wyrd. He is your average monster hunter type of guy for hire.
Win ‘Gears Tactics - The Art of the Game’
Gears Tactics is the fast-paced, turn-based strategy game from one of the most-acclaimed video game franchises – Gears of War. Outnumbered and fighting for survival, recruit and command your squad to hunt down an evil mastermind who makes monsters. In this lavish book, the full development process of the characters, weapons, armor, enemies and environments of the game is uncovered.
NECA Announces New ‘Back To The Future’ Collectibles
NECA has announced their introducing a brand new line of Back to the Future collectibles, for release later this year, tying into the original film’s 30th Anniversary. 7″ Scale Action Figure – Ultimate Marty McFly It’s time to hop in the time machine and go back to 1985! NECA is thrilled to present the Ultimate Marty McFly from Back To The Future featuring the official licensed likeness of Michael J. Fox.
‘Think He’s Crazy! The Comics of B.K. Taylor’ (review)
Written and Illustrated by B.K. Taylor Foreword by Tim Allen Backword by R.L. Stine Published by Fantagraphics Comics You’re familiar with the Mandela Effect? Well this isn’t quite it, but it’s similar. The fact is that I read National Lampoon for roughly a decade and a half, particularly delighting in its comics parodies by the likes of Neal Adams, Frank Springer, and even Frank Frazetta.
‘Tripwire’ Returns: A Guest Post By Joel Meadows
Guest post by Joel Meadows Tripwire started way back in February 1992 as a black and white fanzine, covering comics and music. We were still finding our feet when we began but we got to interview Peter Milligan, plus we covered the beginnings of DC’s Vertigo imprint. Tripwire was a big supporter of Vertigo, championing the likes of Frank Quitely, Grant Morrison, Sean Phillips and Steve Yeowell.
How BMW's The Hire ushered in a new era
The car commercial space is still one of the biggest in adland. According to stats from a 2017 report from Zenith, the US spends $180 billion a year on car advertising while the UK is the fifth largest market, with companies spending $12 billion on ads. Car commercials have been a part of the ad landscape for decades, but in 2001 a series of BMW films called The Hire, starring Clive Owen, raised the bar for the level of detail, budget and sheer ambition.
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