Due to a family medical crisis, I am forced to cancel my appearance at Comic Con Portugal for a second year in a row. Mary and I were looking forward to our trip and hoped to take extra time to explore that beautiful country. I once had a brief 24-hour stopover in Lisbon and have always wanted to return.
My sincere apologies to the organizers and fans I have disappointed, but I hope you will understand that family must come first.
I look forward to attending at a later date.
Mike
Comments Off on FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – CANCELLING PORTUGAL | Published on November 24th, 2022
Due to the US State Department’s travel advisory, we are unfortunately forced to cancel my appearance at Middle East Film & Comic Con in Dubai. My sincere apologies to the organizers and fans. I hope we will be able to visit in the future when the world is at peace.
“This episode we bring you another WFTB Creator Spotlight. Chris is pleased to welcome legendary writer and artist Mike Grell to the show. In a career that has spanned 49 years, he has written for DC, Marvel, Image, First Comics, and Pacific Comics … “
Congratulations to my pals Casper Van Dien (STARSHP TROOPERS; TARZAN AND THE LOST CITY) and Peter Shinkoda (FALLING SKIES; DAREDEVIL;) on their new series SALVAGE MARINES. The trailer and teasers for the series–which will be available on Popcornflix and Crackle–will be aired at SDCC in August.
I had the pleasure of working with Casper (the only Tarzan star to actually ride a real African elephant) in a small budget film, STAR RAIDERS: THE ADVENTURES OF SABER RAINE. His sense of humor and dedicated professionalism made the hectic shoot a most enjoyable experience. Peter Shinkoda has been a “convention buddy” for years and I’m so glad to see him in a role that will give him a chance to show his talent to the max.
I can’t wait to see what they will bring to the screen.
Mike
Comments Off on Congratulations to my pals on their new series SALVAGE MARINES | Published on July 9th, 2022
It’s my great pleasure to announce that Shaman’s Tears will become an audio movie podcast with production starting next summer and broadcasts expected to begin in winter, 2023.
Shaman’s Tears will be produced by Jack Bowman of AudioMarvels and Lance Roger Axt of Pocket Universe Productions, whose other projects include The X-Files, EC Comics Presents and Starstruck, in conjunction with Native Voices at the Autry Museum of the American West under the Artistic Direction of DeLanna Studi. Native Voices is devoted to developing and producing new works for the stage by Native American, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and First Nations playwrights. The company has been hailed by critics as “a virtual Who’s Who of American Indian theatre artists” and “a powerful and eloquent voice.”
I will be working with Choctaw writer Desmond Hassing to adapt Shaman’s Tears into an audio-rich fully immersive setting, complete with a full cast, epic scoring and cinematic soundscapes.
Joining Jack on directing duties will be Roshan Singh, a Webby-nominated screenwriter, composer and creator of the audio drama Temujin.
Handling crowdfunding and outreach is The Fantasy Network, which has a stellar reputation for bringing fans and creators together, empowering both to produce amazing film, video-on-demand, and now, audio fiction including the first season of Elfquest.
Jack Bowman had this to say: “Mike is nothing short of a legend in the comic industry, so to say it’s been daunting… to not only be asked to help bring Joshua to life outside of these iconic comics for the very first time, but to also then make a good first impression when meeting Mike so he’d let us! It shows you how seriously we’ll be taking Shaman’s Tears in 2023, and Mike has been nothing but incredibly gracious and supportive. When Lance first gave me a copy of Shaman’s Tears to read back in 2021 and asked what I thought about making it a podcast series, I was blown away. It’s clever, brilliant, thrilling, timely, timeless and a story that needs to be told again. And where better to be brought to life than audio? “
Lance Roger Axt said: “I have been a fan of Mike’s work for years; moreover working with the actors, writers, and musicians associated with Native Voices at the Autry at an audio conference in 2006 was one of the most fun experiences I’ve had as a voice artist and audio dramatist. So for the opportunity to bring everyone together in telling the stories of Joshua Brand and the Bar Sinister is truly the best of all possible worlds.”
I can’t tell you how excited I am. We didn’t have TV when I was a kid, I never saw one until I was 8 years old and we didn’t get one until I was 11, but we had radio. Listening to those great old shows, I never dreamed the day would come when I could tune in and hear my own stories brought to life. This is gonna be GREAT!
Sorry to say I will not be able to attend Washington State Summer Con this weekend due to health issues. I was hospitalized for a couple of days due to an infection in my left elbow caused by—get this—LEANING ON MY DRAWING BOARD!
Sorry Ito disappoint my fans but the con organizer has assured me the welcome matt is still out and I will be there sooner or later.
Getting old ain’t for sissies.
Mike
Life is drawing with no eraser
Comments Off on For immediate release [Washington State Summer Con] | Published on June 14th, 2022
I’m sorry to announce that I’m forced to cancel my appearance at Megacon Orlando due to ongoing effects of Covid. As of yesterday, I was still testing positive after nearly two weeks and running a temp of 100.8. I’m sorry to disappoint the organizers and my fans, but it’s just not worth the risk of traveling–contagious or not–and ruining what’s left of my health.
The good news is that I spoke to show organizer Kevin Boyd and I’m officially the first confirmed guest for 2023. I hope to see you all there.
Mike
Comments Off on CANCELLED: Megacon Orlando | Published on May 16th, 2022
I’m deeply saddened to hear the news of George Perez passing. He was a wonderful guy and a great artist who left a lasting mark on the medium of comics. His professional dedication and drive were matched by his courage and grace under fire during these last few months.
Anyone who had the pleasure of meeting him had the chance to see a guy who found joy in everything he did and was glad to share it with others.
When I learned that Neal Adams passed away Thursday it was a punch in the gut.
We weren’t friends. For most of my career I don’t think we even liked each other. But I wouldn’t have had a career if not for Neal.
In 1970 I was an illustrator in the US Air Force stationed in Saigon when a guy named Ed Savage arrived in country with a stack of his favorite comics, including GREEN LANTERN/GREEN ARROW by Denny O’Neil, Neal Adams and Dick Giordano. I instantly knew the kind of work I wanted to do.
When I broke into comics three years later it was because I had learned to draw in something resembling Neal’s style, which had come to dominate the industry like Jack Kirby a couple of decades earlier.
I was fortunate to be in the DC offices in 1975 when Denny announced he was going to resurrect the GREEN LANTERN/GREEN ARROW title and I stepped into my dream job. I don’t think Neal ever forgave me for that, but I told him I would never have been in this business in the first place if not for him.
Many years later we achieved a kind of peace because of an act of kindness by Neal’s son Joel. Watching me and my wife Mary struggling to set up a display at a convention, Joel stepped in and volunteered his own display and even helped us set it up.
I went to Neal and complimented him on having raised a fine son with so kind and generous a heart. Joel learned that from his dad who always fought for the underdog. From that moment, my relationship with Neal changed. Not a lot, but enough.
Later, I was able to publicly thank him for everything his body of work had meant to me and I think our relationship changed again.
When I learned of his death, I was stunned. I still am. The thing I hate about getting old is having to write obituaries for all the people who have touched my life.
We are losing our legends. The Hall of Heroes is filling up too fast.
So, off you go, Neal. Ask Denny and Dick to save me a seat.
Life is drawing with no eraser
Comments Off on Neal Adams RIP | Published on April 30th, 2022
