Freed from IndyPlanet!

Well, hell.  I guess it was worth giving them a seventh chance (give or take).

About two years ago, I wrote a few posts with a common theme; my difficulty in ordering from IndyPlanet, and my inability to get any sort of sort of response from them towards solving that problem.  Unless an alternate method was ironed out with the publishers, I was unable to support them and from their perspective, the purpose of a print-on-demand service is pretty well defeated if they have to mail the book to me themselves.

But after seeing that IndyPlanet had upgraded their website recently, I thought I would give them another try.  And it looks (fingers optimistically crossed) as though my purchase worked.  Shipping charges were more reasonable than I expected, no less. I won't believe it until my books are on hand, but there's promise there.

I only made a small order to start with; something of a test run.  I was finally able to order Group of Seven #1, one of the books that had remained elusive over the past two years or so.  To avoid repeating myself, I won't go into greater detail about the book, just click on the tag under "characters / titles" at right to be taken to previous posts about that team.

From Red Leaf I selected All-Canadian Comics #1 and Red Leaf Presents #1.  I have both books in pdf format but wanted the print versions to display, or to bring to my TSOG Fortress of Solitude (where I neither have, or want, an internet connection).  And of course to continue to show a little support towards the company that has been quite kind and generous to me.

Combining the subjects of Red Leaf specifically and tying up loose ends generally, I'd like to point out that issue #7 of their flagship title, The Leaf, is available digitally (and sports a rather sweet cover, I might add, by Lasalle Québec's Cesare Tatarelli).

The book is particularly noteworthy for the debut Kung Fu Canuck, a character first mentioned here in July of last year. Also, the story takes place in Vancouver, a change from the Leaf's usual base of operations of Toronto.  Here's a look at some of the interior art by Carl Emblazado and Lancelot Catan.

"Man of red".  I dig that.  :-)

So thank you again to those who went out of their way to make their books available to me over the past couple of years while IndyPlanet sorted their stuff out (it wouldn't surprise me if the fix was simply coincidental with their site upgrade as their customer service was non-existent).  In addition to Red Leaf, that group includes the folks at Argo Comics (for copies of Argo 5 and their anthology book) and Two Gargoyles (for the first three issues of Thunder, which I thought were a blast)  It may seem like the very thing that you would expect a publisher to do; get books out in readers' hands, but I can tell you from personal experience that not everyone can be bothered.  Go figure.

I should also mention Sebastian Piccione of Sunday Knight Comics.  We were working out a method by which I might be able to get his Allied Forces book but in the end determined that I would wait until more issues are available before proceeding to save on shipping.  That may no longer be necessary if IndyPlanet comes through for me.

Red Leaf Releases Kung Fu Canuck!

Well this looks like fun!

Red Leaf Comics continues to produce innovative and diverse characters in their ever-expanding comic book universe. The company will showcase an Asian-Canadian hero named Kung Fu Canuck this fall in The Leaf #7.

“Canada is a diverse country and its heroes should reflect such a dynamic,” said publisher John Michael Helmer who is also the writer on the title. “Kung Fu Canuck will bring such themes to the forefront of the Red Leaf universe.”

Helmer described the character as a teen hero struggling to find his identity and maintain his complex relationships. The Leaf will encounter the teen and help him fight off what seems like a thousand ninjas. “Canada is too large for just one hero,” said Helmer. “And Kung Fu Canuck is just the kid for the job!”

The Leaf #7 is written by Helmer with help from Art Editor Brad Eastburn. The pencils are from Philippine sensation Carl Embalzado. The pages were colored by fellow Philippine artist Lancelot Catan.

There are several covers available, according the Helmer. Cover A is by Canadian artist Cesare Tartarelli and colored by Federico Sioc. Cover B is digitally drawn by Canadian Andre St-Amour. The story is lettered by T. Warren Montgomery.

The issue will retail for $3.99 and be available online through redleafcomics.com as well as select comic book stores. The Digital Deluxe Download (only 99 cents) has additional pages of pin-ups and extra material and will be available for download at www.drivethrucomics.com.

To view some additional art, click here and to visit Red Leaf's online store, click here.

So let's see...The cover above has to be the André St-Amour one.  It would fit right in with one of St-Amour's Frozen Light books.  As you'll note from viewing André's blog, there are plans for the Frozen Light characters to return later in the year, so there's something else to look forward to.

Cover A artist Cesare Tartarelli's name was somewhat familiar and I (eventually) figured out why; he drew the first issue of Unstoppable Comics' Stormchasers #1.  I previously wrote about that series because the team includes a Canadian character named Hightower.  You can have a look at a preview of that book, and therefore Cesare's art, here.

And lastly, I will admit that the diversity is welcomed in Kung Fu Canuck.  Truthfully, it didn't strike me until I wrote about Dynamo 5's Smasher last year that non-Caucasian Canadian characters are rather rare, but it's still good to see another join the cast.