chumpchampion

The good lads at Secret Headquarters in Silver Lake not only sell the finest comic books in all the land, they also do a fine job of bringing you art shows in the finest of environments. This weekends’ Covered group show, where a plethora of artists re-interpret comic book covers, is no exception and marks the shops largest show to date (I was fortunate enough to get a sneak peek and the art is bonkers. Make sure to look for Johnny Ryan’s contribution!)

Check a preview of the pieces on Flickr here.

More from the Secreters:

“Artists from North America and Europe re-imagine old comic covers in their own style. Based on the blog: www.coveredblog.blogspot.com and curated by blog editor, Robert Goodin.

Artists included are: Andrew Brandou, Jeffrey Brown, Albert Calleros, Coop, Ludovic Debeurme, Michael Deforge, Valerie Fletcher, Yoko Furusho, Robert Goodin, Lisa Hanawalt, Dustin Harbin, Sammy Harkham, Sam Henderson, Josh Holinaty, Patrick Kochakji, Joy Kolitsky, Joe Lambert, Bob London, Tom Neely, Ben Newman, Laura Park, Brian Ralph, Aaron Renier, M. Jason Robards, Johnny Ryan, Richard Sala, Genevieve Simms, Jeremy Tinder, Jon Vermilyea, Anthony Vukojevich, and Steven Weissman.

The show can also be experienced on The Covered blog with one new cover being posted per day beginning March 6th. Work can be purchased by following a link to the Secret Headquarters Flickr page or calling Secret Headquarters….“

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Keeping it Silver Lake-centric, the deadly duo of Daves of Secret Headquarters host the art of Lisa Hanawalt at their comfy comic book shop tomorrow night. I got a sneak peek at some of the illustrated pieces and I must say they are impressively detailed, a must see up close! Very affordable too!

More from the Secret Headquarterers:

“Lisa Hanawalt is some girl from Palo Alto, CA who has a fancy art degree from UCLA.
When Lisa isn’t seen drawing at the Buenaventura booth, or freezing in New York, she can be found creating work for The Believer, McSweeney’s, Vice Magazine, etc. The Secret Headquarters team thinks Hanawalt’s work is top notch amazing.

Join the talented Lisa Hanawalt for a drink or two as she discusses the merits of Indian Jones and the craft of hand painted picture frames.”

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Attention puny geeks: Tomorrow Marvel’s latest animated feature, Planet Hulk, smashes it’s way to New York and Los Angeles with (free!) special movie screenings featuring the creatives behind the award winning Planet Hulk comic books.

From the Marvelites (click here for full press release):

“On February 2, one of Marvel’s most epic sagas of all-time lands in stores on DVD and Blu-ray Disc as “Planet Hulk” makes its incredible animated debut. However, this Thursday, January 14, the gamma-irradiated excitement hits a new level when The Paley Center for Media plays host on two coasts to the exclusive first screenings of the film, along with panels featuring comic and animation talent, as well as limited edition giveaways and creator signings.

Co-sponsored by New York Comic Con and Newsarama.com in association with Marvel Animation and Lionsgate Home Entertainment, the screenings will begin at 6:30 PM local time in New York City and Los Angeles respectively with panel discussions and signings following immediately after at 8:30 PM.”

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My last post of last year was my best list of the best “best of” lists of 2009, so I thought I should start 2010 with something fresh and original. After all, the first year of our new decade deserves more than what any list of any singular year could offer. I must say, what I came up with was nothing short of genius…a list celebrating all the years of the first decade of the 2000’s! So take whatever “original idea” you were trying to come up with and shove it back into your brainhole! Lists: 2, originality: 0. I win again! But only by beating myself…again. Damnit.

Anyhow, for those who long for the early 2000’s of a few days ago, I give you a look back at looking back at our last decade.

Click headers or corresponding images to see complete lists.

• The Daily Show with Jon Stewart’s Decade in Review

• Heavy’s Top 10 Viral Videos of the Decade

Star Wars Kid, nuff said

• The Huffington Post’s Sex Tapes of the Decade

• Rolling Stone’s 100 Best Albums and 100 Best Songs of the Decade

• Rotten Tomatoes Best Films of the Decade

• Sports Illustrated Photographer’s Shots of the Decade and Decade in Sports

• Techland’s 10 Best Comics of the Decade

And last and certainly least…

• Gawker’s Douchebag of the Century Decade

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With the holidays and gift giving seasons upon us, some generous art shows and events are here to lend a helping hand with giveaways, affordable stuffs and comic books.

• The Secret Headquarters hosts a “one night only” evening with acclaimed artist and creator of Hellboy, Mike Mignola, at their Silver Lake comic book store. In addition, “SHQ will also be offering a limited edition Mignola illustrated 3 color letterpress print made specifically for this show. The prints feature never before seen Hellboy artwork by Mike Mignola with color supervision by Dave Stewart.”

• Sonja Rasula once again gives us her uniquely locally independent design show which features direct shopping from over 300 designers and artists, in support of local design as well as our economy, with the UNIQUE LA Holiday Show. Admission not only gets you re-entry through the weekend and a free drink, but also a free tote with exclusive artwork by Shepard Fairey’s Studio No. 1. Also our Gelatobaby friend Alissa Walker will be on hand to help you do the robot, ornaments that is.

• To commemorate the DVD release of our film, Beautiful Losers, director Aaron Rose will be coming on hand to introduce Beautiful Losers Shorts, rare films by the artists and friends of the film. Screening at The Cinefamily on Fairfax, this special presentation features works Mike Mills, Harmony Korine, Thomas Campbell, Geoff McFetridge, Cheryl Dunn, Chris Johanson, Stephen Powers, Spike Jonze, Clare E. Rojas, Tobin Yelland, Jo Jackson and more!

(flyer design once again creatively crafted by Keith Scharwath)

• Giant Robot’s ever affordable cash and carry show is back at GR2 with Post It 4 featuring new work on post its by Gary Baseman, Bob Dob, Evah Fan, Matt Furie, Ryan Heshka, Travis Lampe, Johnny Ryan, Souther Salazar, Deth P. Sun and many, many more. Prices vary between $5.00 and $100.00 - but most pieces priced at $20.00. Limit one piece from each artist on opening night.

• Deck the Halls with Tony Alva for a charitable silent art auction and 4 Year Anniversary Celebration at his Exhibit A Gallery on Fairfax. Featuring artwork from skateboarders Christian Hosoi, Wynn Miller, Mark Gonzalez and many more. RSVP a must!

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Wanna see an animated motion comic of Joss Whedon’s award winning run on the Astonishing X-Men projected three stories high in New York City’s Union Square? Then look no further than Marvel Comics’ MarvelFest NYC 2009 going down tomorrow starting at 4pm at Manhattan’s Forbidden Planet before moving onto Union Square for the world premiere of the Astonishing X-Men Motion Comic. Check the astonishing trailer below and click here for more MarvelFest details and start times.

Astonishing X-Men Marvel Motion Comic Trailer

From the Marvelites:

“It all starts at 4 PM ET at Forbidden Planet (www.fpnyc.com) where you’ll get a chance to meet and get autographs from comic book greats such as Neal Adams (UNCANNY X-MEN), Chris Claremont (UNCANNY X-MEN, X-MEN FOREVER) and Dan Slott (AMAZING SPIDER-MAN).

Then be sure to march down to Union Square by 6 PM ET to get ready for the world premiere of the ASTONISHING X-MEN Motion Comic and Marvel Costume Contest!

Dress up as your favorite Marvel character and be in the running for some great prizes including the chance to be featured in a Marvel comic! All Marvel Costume Contest participants will receive an exclusive Nick Fury action figure (while supplies last) and more goodies!

Get details, official rules and more by visiting the MarvelFest NYC 2009!”

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Close out the summer this Labor Day weekend with art openings, saving our state parks by dancing your ass off and watching classic movies in unusual places around Los Angeles.

• Brooklyn based artist Jon Vermilyea brings an Attack From Space with art and a new silkscreen book to The Secret Headquarters in Silver Lake.

• Fresh friends at Fresh Pressed host Michael C. Hsiung and his cast of mythical creatures for an opening and live screenprinting of select works in Los Feliz.

• Picnicing, beer tasting and “beautiful baby” watching at the Barnsdall Art Park for an outdoor movie night featuring Jon Favreau’s Los Feliz inspired Swingers.

• Go to the Fuck Yeah Fest and help save our state parks while enjoying the musical stylings of the Black Lips, No Age, Tim and Eric and many more F-Yeahers at the Los Angeles State Historic Park.

• Buff Monster brings a Heavy Metal Ice Cream Smile to the Corey Helford Gallery in Culver City just in time to cool off and close out the summer.

• Be there for Being There at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery as Cinespia presents the 1979 dramedy (and original Forrest Gump) directed by Hal Ashby (Harold and Maude) starring Peter Sellers.

• Enjoy your day off while watching the recently departed John Hughes’ 1986 classic Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Also at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery.

• Also on Saturday night, The Cinefamily on Fairfax and Paul F. Tompkins (Mr. Show) has an adventure for you should you choose to accept it: Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure directed by Tim Burton. Screening as part of the Upright Citizens Brigade’s Comedy Death Ray series.

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Chumpchampion comrade Chris Leone and his writing partner Laura Harkcom, the creators of the sci-fi cult TV show The Lost Room and the new hit comic book series We Kill Monsters, will be on hand to shake your hands, sign your boobs, and kill you with kindness at the world famous Golden Apple comic book shop on Melrose this Wednesday. And on top of all that, the creative team will also be creating some good will with free donuts for your mouth holes! And no that wasn’t a typo earlier, they will indeed sign your boobs. But only if you ask politely.

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The Lost Room creator and Motion Theory homie Chris Leone along with writing partner Laura Harkcom will be signing copies of their brand new venture into comic books, We Kill Monsters, appropriately enough at a comic book store. Earth 2 in Sherman Oaks (which in itself exists on a whole other planet) does the honors today from 12 noon to 2pm. Support the killing of monsters and cop a copy today!

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Oh how I long to be one of the many thousands of lucky nerds in San Diego for Comic-Con (still can’t believe I’ve never been, I fear my dork credibility may be in jeopardy!) Fortunately there are many a happening around Los Angeles to take your mind off all the geeky goodness we’re missing out on.

• With that being said, allow me to start with a few events at Comic-Con for those who made the trek down the 405 freeway:

Artist signings by Mark Ryden, Joe Ledbetter, James Jean, The Pizz, Scott Musgrove, Ron English, and Travis Louie for Last Gasp Publishing.

James Jean (again), David Choe, and David Horvath for Giant Robot.

And a Tim and Eric sighting at their very own con of the awesome variety, appropriately called Awesome Con!

• Wayne White (one of my favorite typographists) and Exene Cervenka fly their way over to the Western Project Gallery in Culver City with their two person show, We Are Not the Jetset.

• Stick around Culver City for a three person show featuring some Heavy Petting with David Burke, Riddles In the Dark with Mia, and Keep It Down with guest artist Sarah Folkman at the Corey Helford Gallery.

• Don’t leave Culver City just yet cause the Scion Installation Space opens up it’s place for the 2009 Vice Magazine Photography Exhibition featuring Jamie Lee Curtis Taete, Maggie Lee, and former Vice photo editor, Tim Barber.

• Cinespia presents The Muppet Movie at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, need I say more?

• Recoup on Sunday and take an Urban Hike through Little Tokyo with the Architecture and Design Museum Los Angeles.

• Spread your wings and fly to the MOCA’s Pacific Design Center on Melrose for an art talk with Benjamin Ball and Gaston Nogues whose installation Feathered Edge: A New Installation by Ball-Nogues Studio is currently on view and features “over 21 miles of colored strings configured in catenary curves span the gallery space to form a dynamic environment.”

• And finally, end your weekend on a “high” note (yeah, that’s right I said it) with Cheech and Chong’s classic Up in Smoke at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery.

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