The test teaser trailer for
Dark Horse artist-writer Eric Powell's "The Goon" was shown to excited Comic-Con audiences who cheered at the sights, sounds and action, Friday.
And for many of us at the Dark Horse Comics: Make Contact in 2010 panel, it was brand new material even though it hit the Web a few days earlier. I hadn't seen a pixel of
the project at the time, but I did a post about an animated version of
"The Goon" when Modern Mythology first launched.
What I glimpsed on that a dimly lit screen in the meeting room was OK, but the trailer looked outstanding in the YouTube clip above.
As I mentioned, It had been some years since announcement, but "The Goon" animated concept hasn't lost any of its mojo. A
tightly-packed crowd of Dark Horse fans thrilled to a quick segment
which featured the character Franky letting loose with a Tommy gun and playing bar games with a few ghoulish pals. And the Goon himself was as imposing as ever.
The universe of "The Goon" blends mystery, dark humor and the supernatural with tough-guy, gangster violence.
The project will feature the voice talents of Clancy Brown ("Carnivale" from HBO) as the Goon and Paul Giamatti (you know who he is) as Franky. Powell hints there may be even more to show fans tonight.
Dark Horse honcho Mike Richardson introduced several other editors and creators, many of whom talked about their latest projects:
Mike Mignola
of "Hellboy" fame, returns with a series based on the
vampire hunter Baltimore. "Baltimore: The Plague
Ships."
Regular readers of Joss Whedon's "Buffy:
Season 8" can expect the series to return with issue #36. It not
only features Spike, it is the start of the big finish to the
"Twilight" storyline. Dark Horse editor Scott Allie
promises there will be a lot of "tears."
Also, author Janet Evanovich and her daughter Alex team up to pen the "Trouble Maker" graphic novel, with art by Joelle Jones.
"One of the proudest things I've done is see my name on a graphic novel cover with my mom," Alex Evanovich said during their segment of the panel.
Oh yeah, there were a few fans in the house for comics writer Gerard Way, creator of "The Umbrella Academy" -- one of my favorite recent comics. I hear he does music too, with some group called "My Chemical Romance?"
Judging from the barrage of flashes from point-and-shoot cameras, I would guess he's a little famous for something besides Umbrella. Way said he's finishing up a music project and will be getting back to writing funny books very soon -- hopefully, another "Umbrella Academy" mini-series.
Pictured right, artwork from "Baltimore: The Plague Ships."
Edited to change "Gatling" gun to "Tommy" gun.
Hey, Geech, Franky's actually toting a Thompson.