Via: Boing Boing
Graphic novel on stage in Los Angeles By David Pescovitz

No Good Deed is a new multimedia play in Los Angeles that melds a graphic novel with live theater. Created by the edgy, experimental Furious Theatre Company — including my brother Robert Pescovitz — No Good Deed is a classic, dark superhero story of good and evil injected with the cultural criticism that is Furious’ modus operandi. The live production, written by Matt Pelfrey and directed by Dámaso Rodriguez, employs projected illustrations, intense fight choreography, and compelling characters to immerse the viewer in the action. And if you’re thinking that sounds like Broadway’s Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark, here’s what industry mag TalkinBroadway wrote, “I want to hold this production up to the producers of Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark and say, ‘This is how you put a graphic novel on stage.” No Good Deed is actually the first story in an ongoing narrative that continues with Hellbound Heroes, a print comic with art by Ben Matsuya. You can grab a copy by donating $5 to Furious Theatre. The play runs until February 26 and Furious has kindly offered Boing Boing a discount code to save $5 on admission. Just enter BoingBoing as the coupon code when you purchase tickets here!

This is what LAist had to say about No Good Deed:

Nick Cernoch leads the cast as Josh Jaxon, a conflicted and abused high-school student that must deal with a major change in his social status. As both a hero and antihero, Cernoch easily makes a bold transition feel natural. He guides Jaxon away from an appropriately subdued modality as a bullied kid to an energized, engaging and exciting alter-ego realized through a drug-induced multi-dimensional fantasy.

Shawn Lee and Troy Metcalf play Jaxon’s “fucking-with-crime” sidekicks Bryant Feld and Danny Diamond. As Feld, Lee is a charismatic and commanding actor that often drives pulsed tension on stage. Metcalf renders Diamond as a sympathy-drawing underling, beautifully executing Diamond’s most tragic scene and delivering the best performance of the show. Finally, Robert Pescovitz renders the role of Jaxon’s frightening step-father with impressive authenticity.

The complex staging of No Good Deed must be a nightmare to direct, but Damaso Rodriguez smoothly orchestrates the entire production with raw grace and a little kitsch. In fact, Rodriguez has crafted an indie-version of Broadway’s Spiderman, minus all of the Spiderman failures, of course. Brian Danner’s fight choreography is perfectly executed, conceptualized and is a huge audience draw. Scenic design of John Icovelli, costuming by Christy Hauptman, graphic design of Ben Matsuya and original music composition of Doug Newell contribute tremendously in capturing the essence of a great comic book.

Furious Theatre Company presents No Good Deed

On Saturday, February 11, from 12 to 5pm, the students from Meltdown University director Jim Higgins’s college classes will be presenting and selling their minicomics to YOU! These students from Otis College of Art and Design and CalArts will be showing off the great comics they’ve made during this past Fall semester in the college-versions of the Creating Comics Jim teaches at Meltdown. There’s some great work in these minicomics by these fabulous art students, some of whom may be the future stars of their own comics series. And you can discover them now!

(Want to take Jim’s next Creating Comics class, which starts on Wednesday, February 15? Want to find out about the other Meltdown U classes like the Webcomics and Inking and Coloring classes which are starting new series in the next week or two? Or learn about the ongoing Kids Comics class? Then go here for more info and to sign up:

http://www.meltcomics.com/blog/meltdown-university/

http://www.meetup.com/DrawMelt/

And what else are you doing on with your Saturday afternoon anyway — watching reality television?  Spending important hours of your life on Facebook? Hanging around in some stupid park where you’ll just wind up with grass stains on your jeans? Your really good jeans? Instead, bring yourself down to Meltdown and see these rising stars and get some great comics. We have spoken!

Two pages from the minicomic by Otis student Carolyn Tom.

About the Meltdown Comics EXTRAS edition

Included in this pack will be a commemorative Meltdown Comics envelope and letterhead, Meltdown Comics sticker, vintage Baby Melt ribbon (yeah, we made this), a tiny 1:6 scale T-Shirt (Sized-to-Fit the DEATH RAY ACTION FIGURE, the Hi-Fashion Enid DOLL or to class-up your child’s BRATZ doll if you will), a little silkscreen print, a pin, plus other surprises. All using the Meltdown Comics Mel Mascot and logo designed last century for Meltdown, Inc. by Dan Clowes. That is like  back in the 1990s,man! ONLY 200 sets will be made. FUN! Will cost us more that 10 bux to make all of these bits but will only add 10 bux over the cover price if you buy the book from us.  Pre-order Meltdown Comics EXTRAS edition here

Throughout his 25-year career, alternative cartoonist/screenwriter Daniel Clowes has always been ahead of artistic and cultural movements. In the late 1980s his groundbreaking comic book series Eightball defined indie culture with wit, venom, and even a little sympathy. With each successive graphic novel (Ghost World, David Boring, Ice Haven, Wilson, Mister Wonderful ), Clowes has been praised for his emotionally compelling narratives that reimagine the ways that stories can be told in comics. The Art of Daniel Clowes: Modern Cartoonist is the first monograph on this award-winning, New York Times–bestselling creator, compiled with his complete cooperation. It includes all of Clowes’s best-known illustrations as well as rare and previously unpublished work, all reproduced from the original art, and also includes essays by noted contributors such as designer Chip Kidd and cartoonist Chris Ware.

Alvin Buenaventura recently started the publishing company Pigeon Press. He previously published artistic and insightful graphic novels, books, and prints under the imprint Buenaventura Press from 2003 to 2009. Buenaventura also edits the monthly comics section for McSweeney’s literary magazine, The Believer. He lives in Oakland, California.

Come celebrate the WILD SIDE of zombie survival with all of us at Hunters Books for a RAGE FILLED event to celebrate our newest expansion to Outbreak: Undead!

We at Hunters Books believe that after discovering the horrors of wilderness survival, you’ll be asking yourself “Why couldn’t it just be Zombies?

If you are going to be in the LA area, and want to not only meet your fellow zombie survival enthusiast but the creators as well. Then come down to the Nerdist Theater in Hollywood, CA where the famous MELTDOWN COMICS is located, and party with us!

Open Bar, Raffle, Photos, Demo Games and more.

We will also be hosting a book signing featuring the lead developer Christopher De La Rosa, and Jessica Pelatt the cover model from the cover of the Core Rulebook.

This is by no means a closed invite, bring your friends, bring your kids, and come discover why YOUR ZOMBIE SURVIVAL PLAN WILL FAIL!

Best of all, it’s FREE!

Fans of role-playing games, fans of zombies, and fans of fun times- come on down at 8pm this Saturday, 2/04/2012 at Nerdist Theater inside Meltdown Comic, 7522 Sunset Bl. LA, CA 90046

We at DnDMelt want to thank everyone for participating in our charity event!! A HUGE thank you to our Sponsors: Keith Baker, Satine Phoenix, Wizards of the Coast, Hasbro, Shelly Mazzanoble, Walter Brenner, The Nosh Beverly Hills, Mighty Fine Tees, Ralphs & Sam Proof!!!!

You can continue to donate by Donating here:

NOW we have the PDF up for your downloading pleasure!!! You can purchase  and download it through the end of the week  right here: Dolurrhs Dawn PDF DOWNLOAD

Written by Keith Baker & Illustrated by Satine Phoenix

 
Reach Out and Read

Reach Out and Read is an evidence-based nonprofit organization that promotes early literacy and school readiness in pediatric exam rooms nationwide by giving new books to children and advice to parents about the importance of reading aloud.

Reach Out and Read builds on the unique relationship between parents and medical providers to develop critical early reading skills in children, beginning at 6 months of age. The 3.8 million families served annually by Reach Out and Read read together more often, and their children enter kindergarten with larger vocabularies, with stronger language skills, and better prepared to succeed.

** follow Jenny on twitter **

** follow Ed Salazar on twitter and tumbler **

** stalk Jenny on facebook (but not in person, please) **

** see Jenny dance **

** follow Jenny on twitter **

** stalk Jenny on facebook (but not in person, please) **

** see Jenny dance **

Jason JFish Fischer, illustrator of the new monster porn comic series Junqueland, is signing at Meltdown Comics! Jason will be signing copies of Junqueland #1, Junqueland #2 and the special full color erotic pin-up book Hot Buttons. Written by Robin Bogert, Junqueland is a monster porn comic series starring original monster characters having adults-only fun!

Junqueland #1 – Croc Gal runs a tight ship over at her bakery and can not stand tardiness. Big Mouth the baker is too slow for her tastes, so Croc Gal dishes some punishment… a food fight with day old pasties that leads to a hot, sticky mess! 12 B/W pages, color cover, written by Robin Bogert and illustrated by Jason JFish Fischer.

Junqueland #2 – Two tales of summer fun await you! Kiss Kiss the Gorgon and Strawberry Head get juicy in the poolside cabana and make some strawberry margaritas. After a dip in the pool, Abstract Head and Wolf Lady go for a hike through the woods looking for a reclusive monster known for seducing forest dwellers and horny hikers. 20 B/W pages, color cover, written by Robin Bogert and illustrated by Jason JFish Fischer.

Hot Buttons – A discreet pocket book containing 9 full color erotic pin-ups of your favorite Junqueland characters pressing their “hot buttons” (or getting them pressed by a pal!) A set of matching wearable buttons is available for those who wish to wear their monster porn love with pride! 9 color pages, color cover, illustrated by Jason JFish Fischer.

Who: Jason JFish Fischer
What: Junqueland comics signing
When: Wednesday, January 18th 7:00pm
Where: Meltdown Comics

What: It is generally believed that modern Chinese martial arts derived from two separate mountains: Shaolin and Wudan.

Yet, before these two traditions established themselves, the development of kung fu is shrouded in a rich and mysterious past, rife with magical beasts, angry gods, and fearsome warriors.

To celebrate the coming Chinese New Year (the Year of the Dragon!), I reworked sixteen myths and legends and paired each one with sixteen different artists and illustrators from diverse artistic and cultural backgrounds.

Each was asked to work solely in black ink on white paper to create pieces that honored the tradition of kung fu manuals.

Who: Tony Philippou, Nate Wragg, Aaron Jasinski, Micah Gunnell, Dadu Shin, Corinne Reid, ESPI, Christopher Brand, Evan Skrederstu, Jennifer Tong, Victo Ngai, Alina Chau, NERD, Jenikah, and Andrew Huerta.

Check out the digital postcard for The Art of Kung Fu: Myths & Legends, featuring Tony Philippou, Christopher Brand, and Victo Ngai!

When: 7:30-9:00 p.m. on January 20th, 2012

Where: Meltdown Gallery inside Meltdown Comics in Hollywood.