New from Archaia Studios Press, it’s “The Devil’s Handshake!” Check out my article interviewing writers Ryan Schiffrin, Larry Hama and Adam Archer. It’s a great book with inspiration drawn from old pulp fiction and adventure movies. Definitely pick it up and give it a read when it comes out.

The article features quotes from Scott Kurtz of PvP, Chris Onstaad of Achewood and the always charming Lora Innes of The Dreamer on the economics, technology and software used to get a webcomic off the ground. Great people all, check out their webcomics after you read the article. It originally ran in issue #214 of Wizard Magazine, and if you keep picking it up, you can check out the new Webcomic of the Month feature written by yours truly with inspiration by the one and only Jim Gibbons.

Hot off the presses from ComicBookResources.com, here’s an interview that I did with writer/artist Chandra Free on her upcoming project “The God Machine.” We talk about everything from the beginnings of the project to her inspiration for the name of her main character (which has to do with Street Fighter II Alpha!)

Check it out at Comic Book Resources!

Sonorous Productions is proud to announce the premiere of Lilah, the first pilot of our 2009 Pilot Season.

A long time ago in a land far away, there lived a woman named Elizabeth. Sometime during Elizabeth’s young life, a handsome stranger clad all in black visited the town. The stranger was besotted by Elizabeth and stayed with her family as a plague ravaged the town, leaving only a few survivors.

Some say that the stranger was death himself, but none were absolutely sure.

As the stranger departed as quickly as he came, Elizabeth was left with a rather large surprise – a pregnancy. Shunned by her family, she was exiled from her home, choosing to live on the outskirts of town with only her faithful maid Katherine for comfort. Nine months later, a baby girl was born in that tiny cottage. Elizabeth called her Lilah.

This is her story.

Cast (in order of appearance)
Brenna Wagner………………………….Polly
Chiara Di Lello…………………………..Gwendolyn
Steve Sunu………………………………..Rialto
Rachel Carpman………………………..Katherine
Ruby Ross…………………………………Elizabeth
Leah Lucid………………………………..Young Lilah
Will Eggers……………………………….Headmaster James Hastings

Lilah is copyright 2009 Sonorous Productions.

Hey there, Sonorous Fans! To pique your interest, we’ve got a special blast from the past for you! Seen here for the first time since it’s re-debut in Songs of the Troubadour (and soon to be featured in the Sonorous Pilot Season episode “Sparks”) is Polly Wonders!

Listen to it here!

Based on the book of the same name by Audrey Niffelnegger, The Time Traveler’s Wife chronicles the lives of genetically impaired and chronally displaced Henry DeTamble and the love of his life/eventual wife Claire Abshire through their somewhat untraditional life together.

I had a very unique experience with this movie. I read the book several weeks ago, having heard that the movie starred the talented Rachel McAdams and Eric Bana. After work, I rushed to the theater ready to be entertained.

I got into the theater just as the second preview was showing. It was a rather noisy theater, but nothing really out of the ordinary – but when the movie started, there were some folks in front of me that were talking and laughing at inappropriate times – basically just killing the entire mood. It was so distracting that I unfortunately had to leave the theater.

Fun times with Henry DeTamble and Claire Abshire

The next day, I tried again and was far more successful at watching the movie.

Personally, I would compare my experience in attempting to see The Time Traveler’s Wife to the movie itself; it improves upon watching multiple times. Readers of the book already know the movie isn’t going to stack up, and it doesn’t. It’s not really meant to. However, as an adaptation, it succeeds quite well – getting the beats of Henry and Claire’s life together and taking out much of the incidental subplots that gave the book its charm and draw.

The movie has gotten panned on other sites for a number of reasons, some of which I agree with, but that doesn’t mean the movie is bad. It is, rather, enhanced by the fact that I have read the book. Unfortunately, that is also the biggest drawback to the film. I happened to attend the second showing with a good friend, who had not read the book and has no intention of doing so in the near future. He was confused and befuddled by many of the story beats and quick character introductions.

Bana really shows off his acting chops here, demonstrating a wide range of Henrys from a 28 year old alcoholic librarian to a 40 year old seasoned time traveler and family man. Rachel McAdams’ first appearance as Claire was somewhat unconvincing, but like my experience watching the movie, improved upon multiple viewings.

If you enjoyed the book, you will no doubt enjoy this movie as much as I did. If you’re not interested in reading the book, know that the movie is a poor substitute, but at the end of the day is entertaining and poignant in it of itself. Otherwise, just see it another time.