via: LA WEEKLY

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Summer! What does it mean to you? Sun in your eyes? Sand in your crack? Comedian Howard Kremer has a few ideas, which he’s been trumpeting since right around the time spring petered out if you follow him on Twitter.

It seems only fitting that Kremer would take over the reigns of this month’s Meltdown Comics’ comedy showcase from regular emcee Jonah Ray – oh, but the sultan of SUMMAH! wasn’t the only special feature of Saturday’s stand-up shindig. Free barbecue and brew w/ admission? Oh, yes please.

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IMG_0573.jpgEli Braden gets a harmony assist from Ed Salazar

Kicking off an hour before the usual start time, the crowd gathered in Meltdown’s back parking lot to grub on chicken and ribs while comedy singer/songwriter Eli Braden serenaded them with a setlist of songs with ‘Summer’ in the title… or songs that were played non-stop during summer. (Which explains “Wonderwall,” we guess, though it’s hard to top “Boys of Summer.” Oh, po-faced Don Henley. You were on top of the world for three months in 1985.) Some folks enjoyed the bean-bag toss while attempting not to spill their beers, and a well-placed neighbor having a smoke on his balcony nearby occasionally belted out a chorus or two in time (and in tune!) with the music. (If you’re reading this and were there, did that dude ever come down and attempt to crash? We were kind of hoping he would.)

IMG_0539.jpgHeads up! Beanbag incomiiiinnngggg!!
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This weeks’ episode has more roster changes than a year of Avengers titles! First, while Caleb is away, the podcasters three contrast the opening of the Daredevil event SHADOWLAND, with Grant Morrison’s latest chapter of his ongoing Bat-saga in BATMAN & ROBIN #13. Other books discussed include DETECTIVE COMICS #866, Meltcast fave Paul Cornell’s ACTION COMICS #890, TURF #2, SCALPED #39, BATMAN: ODYSSEY, THE ATOM SPECIAL, THE BOYS, X-WOMEN, and the Marvel comics premiere of CASANOVA.

In the second segment Sam steps out and Nicole Campos (LA WEEKLY)  returns to help us interview Eisner Award winner Hope Larson (GRAY HORSES, CHIGGERS).  We touch on Hope’s Survey of Female Comics readers, working with book publishers versus within the comics industry, and her newest book, Mercury.

Our hands were not idle this week; the devil must be disappointed.

 

Music: Robyn – “Fembot” / Missy Elliot – “Beep Me 911″
Intro: Notorious B.I.G. – “Who Shot Ya? (remix)” + Project 86 – “The Butcher”

 

The Meltcast welcomes two new members to the team – Pop Culture Bon Vivant and Contributor for LA Weekly, Nicole Campos, and Emmy-award winning writer & producer Peter Murrieta (Wizards of Waverly Place, Hope & Faith) – while welcoming back Sam “The Hammer” Humphries from the injured list!  We discuss Peter’s Improv show, The Murrieta Gang, now running at the Bang Theater, the problems translating comics to other media, the upcoming Walking Dead TV series and its implications for comics, and coin a new phrase: ‘Minorities in Matchbooks”.

 

 

View videos and vote here.

For the LA Weekly By Nicole Campos

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Dustin David aims his propeller limbs at Jonah Ray’s recycling.

Just one week from today, geek brethren: Matthew Vaughn’s much anticipated, controversial, madder-than-a-hatter and — judging by the early reactions — all-but-assured cult classic adaptation of Mark Millar’s Kick-Ass barrels its way into theaters. In the spirit of home-spun vigilante heroism, the intrepid crew of Meltdown Comics held an event Wednesday night with an eye toward giving any and all local candidates for grass-roots ass-kickery a chance to shine and prove to the world they’ve got what it takes to put a boot in the hiney of… well, any hiney that requires booting, really. With the backup of Comics on Comics, Geekscape and Lionsgate Films, Meltdown cleared as much space as possible in their back gallery space (No mean feat – lots of room breadth-wise but those ceilings are low. And dude, don’t kick the artwork!), set up cameras, called in some judges and enticed the masses with gooey fried goodness from the Frysmith french-fry truck… all to find out who among Hollywood faithful had what it takes – with only a minute to demonstrate — just how they are capable of kicking ass.

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Annie Cruz’s fists are ready for their closeup
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Via: LA WEEKLY: The Good Exchange – Meltdown Comics – Los Angeles – Events.

The Good Exchange

Sat., March 27, 3:00pm-8:00pm

TUNE IN, SELL OUT, MELT DOWN

By Nicole Campos
As the kids today might be prone to say, Meltdown Comics is made of so much WIN. The venerable comics outlet on Sunset Boulevard has made a name not only for its superb inventory but also its thriving sense of community, attracting geeks of all ages with in-store appearances, terrific art and comedy shows, and this weekend a wonderful event in conjunction with Otis College of Art and Design titled The Good Exchange. Drop by Chez Melt this Saturday for the culmination of a three-stage project by the college’s illustration department. Students will be on hand to swap, exchange and sell their artworks and promote “community, conversation, creativity and commerce.” (If you’re looking to score an early meister werk by the next John Cassaday or Alex Ross, be sure to bring cash, since it’s preferred.)
The Good Exchange

Sat., March 27, 3:00pm-8:00pm

Meltdown Comics
7522 Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90046 (map)

1.323.851.7223


©2012 Meltdown, Inc. WP retouched by the hand of FD for Meltdown, Inc.